Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

cure

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of cure

1 something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable

  • a fun hobby is always a good cure for boredom
Synonyms of cure

antidote, corrective, curative, rectifier, remedy, therapeutic, therapy
Words Related to cure

cure-all, elixir, panacea

answer, solution

aid, help, relief, succor

balm, medicinal, medicine, palliative

2 a substance or preparation used to treat disease

  • researchers tirelessly working to find a cure for cancer
Synonyms of cure

drug, medicament, medication, medicinal, medicine, pharmaceutical, physic, remedy, specific
Words Related to cure

cure-all, nostrum, panacea

botanical, patent medicine, prescription, prescription drug

cordial, potion, tonic

miracle drug, wonder drug

cap, capsule, pill, tablet

injection, shot

embrocation, liniment, lotion, ointment, potion, poultice, salve

syrup (also sirup), tincture

antibiotic, antiseptic, serum

cathartic, purgative

cure

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of cure

1 to bring about recovery from

  • do you have anything that will cure my headache?
Synonyms of cure

heal, mend, remedy
Words Related to cure

allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve

palliate, salve, soothe

ease, lighten, moderate, temper

doctor, nurse

medicate, treat

diagnose
Near Antonyms of cure

aggravate, worsen

misdiagnose, overdiagnose, underdiagnose

2 to restore to a healthy condition

  • the antibiotic cured the sick boy of the bacterial infection
Synonyms of cure

fix, heal, mend, rehab, rehabilitate, set up
Words Related to cure

attend (to), care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, physic, treat

fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive

alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair
Near Antonyms of cure

cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound

afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken

Learn More about cure

  1. See words that rhyme with cure Dictionary: Definition of cure Medical Dictionary: Definition of cure Spanish Central: Translation of cure Nglish: Translation of cure for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cure for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cure? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games