as in medicinal
tending to cure disease or restore health
some believe that the herb has curative properties
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in antidote
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable
the best curative for her depression might be volunteer work at a local animal shelter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of curative
Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Since there’s no preventive or curative medicine, avoiding infection is the best course of action.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
Money-minded Venus is squaring curative Chiron, pushing you to match your spending habits with your values (without shaming yourself or others).
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
Scientifically, preventive medicine is always preferred over curative, but what happens when there is neither prevention nor cure?
—Hany Demian, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curative
Adjective
Signature massages use organic oils from the Almescar tree, derived from a bioactive resin which acts as a natural insect repellent, curative panacea, and incense.
—Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
Since there’s no preventive or curative medicine, avoiding infection is the best course of action.
—Devika Rao, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
Money-minded Venus is squaring curative Chiron, pushing you to match your spending habits with your values (without shaming yourself or others).
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
Scientifically, preventive medicine is always preferred over curative, but what happens when there is neither prevention nor cure?
—Hany Demian, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for curative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for curative
Adjective
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The farm specializes in gourmet and medicinal fungi, such as oyster, lion's mane, and native Danish coral tooth mushrooms.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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Then there’s the white sage, with its velvety leaves and strong, almost medicinal scent.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Block Island, Rhode Island An 80- to 90-minute ferry ride from New London, Connecticut, or Newport, Rhode Island, this approximately 7,000-acre island is the perfect antidote to the more congested Massachusetts destination Nantucket.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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Their focus on old values of community, mutual respect, reciprocity and the embrace of the gift economy is an antidote to the individualistic, competitive and combative discourse that’s prevalent in the West today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Finding a therapeutic drug that targets the symptoms of PMOS became a passion project for Bhatia.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
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Activating them during exposure work may reinforce the therapeutic learning happening in the room, helping patients form new emotional associations with traumatic memories rather than experiencing them as immediate threats.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
Noun
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This distinction matters because the appropriate remedy depends on the problem being solved.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
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Interim letters are expected to be mailed June 8, while additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Each puzzle has exactly one solution, so watch out for words or items that seem to belong to multiple categories!—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
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At the same time, districts are being asked to accelerate progress despite limited time, staffing, and resources during the school year—driving demand for solutions that can extend learning beyond traditional classroom hours.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Noun
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No family should have to watch their child suffer while a life-changing therapy sits trapped in regulatory red tape.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
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This is a time when TCM has never been more popular, with practices including acupuncture, as well as cupping, herbal medicine, and other somatic therapies (or something as simple as drinking warm water) going mainstream in the Western world.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Noun
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His room came with a balcony and a wooden lounge chair for taking a rest cure, just as patients did a century ago.—
Adam Kirsch,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
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While the science is always evolving, colostrum should be viewed as a promising but still largely unproven supplement rather than a cure-for-all wellness product.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Curative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/curative. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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