mə-ˈdis-nəl
1
as in healing
tending to cure disease or restore health
even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in healthy
beneficial to the health of body or mind
if gin and tonic is the medicinal potion that he claims, then he's done a lot of self-medication of late
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
mə-ˈdis-nəl
as in drug
a substance or preparation used to treat disease
the discovery that the plant is a potent medicinal once it has been refined
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of medicinal
Mark Hay, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2025
Sloviansk, Ukraine — On the beaches of Sloviansk’s tiny salt lake, where the medicinal waters provide a moment of solace from the whirling violence of the eastern frontlines just a few miles away, talk of a Ukraine land deal at Friday’s Alaska summit seems dark and surreal.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
Angela Kinsey said her family regularly traveled to Oak Flat for acorn picking, gathering medicinal plants and ceremonies.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
In 2023, Fondation H—an institution dedicated to Africa and its diasporas—inaugurated its new space in the city’s former post office with a retrospective of the late artist Madame Zo, known for her experimental textiles crafted from magnetic tape, electronics, medicinal plants, and industrial foam.
—Liam Freeman, Vogue, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicinal
Adjective
The recipes in these medicinal tomes are pretty complex—one calls for goose and hart brains mixed with silver, myrrh, ginger powder, honey, and several other precious ingredients on top of a base of wax and olive oil.
—Mark Hay, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2025
Sloviansk, Ukraine — On the beaches of Sloviansk’s tiny salt lake, where the medicinal waters provide a moment of solace from the whirling violence of the eastern frontlines just a few miles away, talk of a Ukraine land deal at Friday’s Alaska summit seems dark and surreal.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2025
Angela Kinsey said her family regularly traveled to Oak Flat for acorn picking, gathering medicinal plants and ceremonies.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 30 July 2025
In 2023, Fondation H—an institution dedicated to Africa and its diasporas—inaugurated its new space in the city’s former post office with a retrospective of the late artist Madame Zo, known for her experimental textiles crafted from magnetic tape, electronics, medicinal plants, and industrial foam.
—Liam Freeman, Vogue, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicinal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for medicinal
Adjective
-
Eating more magnesium-rich foods, like beans, can help keep cortisol at a healthy level.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Rather than bringing us together into one utopian public square and fostering a healthy exchange of ideas, these platforms too often create filter bubbles or echo chambers.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
For major competitions like the Wanda Diamond League, which requires event operators to run drug screening processes in line with global standards, an athlete must first pass anti-doping testing before prize money is released.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Rudi, 43, was also due to face two charges relating to the same drugs plot as his younger brother.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Make a commitment to set aside restorative time for yourself every week, and honor that commitment.—
Anne Sugar,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The few district attorneys who believe punishment is an effective deterrent are all facing opposition candidates next year; candidates who plan to run on the idea that prosecutors should deemphasize prison and focus on restorative justice instead.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Lots of people succeeding at enterprise spells a good economy.—
Brian Domitrovic,
Forbes.com,
9 Aug. 2025
-
His best figures of 4-19 came in a fiery spell against Worcestershire.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
By the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, some areas of medicine, such as psychiatry, would face increasing criticism, including from social movements representing women and LGBT people.—
Time,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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When Alec Flynn was in college, the comedian began using standup as a form of medicine to help with depression.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
No disciplinary or other remedial action was taken against the harassers, and the harassment continued and, in some cases, worsened after employees complained.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
31 July 2025
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The solution, in this framework, is remedial state action commensurate with the original harm.—
Idrees Kahloon,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Tyrion received medication to reduce inflammation for a few weeks, but there was no injury or surgery to recover from—only the need to adapt to life as a paralyzed dog.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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During the early 20th century, bromide salts were available in an array of over-the-counter medications aimed at issues like anxiety, insomnia, and hysteria.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The problem there is that the AI is essentially rendering a therapeutic diagnosis.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Debate over the ethics of generative AI as a therapeutic aid remains divisive and ongoing.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Medicinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/medicinal. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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