as in panacea
something that cures all ills or problems
a quack nostrum for cancer of all types
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nostrum
Because of the false but persistent and powerfully seductive nostrum that reducing the value of a country’s currency will stimulate its economy by making its exports cheaper and its imports more expensive.
—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nostrum
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nostrum
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nostrum
Noun
-
Fish oil supplements and omega-3 fatty acids are often touted as a panacea for everything from heart health and brain function to immune systems and overall everyday well-being.
-
More bureaucracy — in the form of the new stand-alone Department of Gun Violence Reduction — while well-intentioned, isn’t the panacea to what plagues our city, especially as whoever is appointed head of this new department will enjoy too much independence from the mayor.
Noun
-
There’s the famous falls, the honeymoon hotels and a viticultural focus on ice wine—a syrupy elixir produced in frigid temperatures (how Canadian).
-
The elixir is packed with skin care-first ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid to create a supple base for foundation.
Noun
-
The defense team also pointed to another Utah criminal case in which prosecutors were accused of contempt and suggested that one potential remedy would be to bar the state from seeking the death penalty.
-
The main remedy Robinson’s defense suggested if prosecutors were held in contempt was for the death penalty to be removed as a possible punishment, should Robinson be convicted.
Noun
-
The problem is that if AI does lead to massive job loss, simply informing job seekers of the resilience of these job categories offers no cure to the sweeping harm of permanently higher unemployment.
-
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease but some medications and immunotherapies are available that may help slow down the progression of the condition, manage symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.
Noun
-
But with its long list of as many as 80 ingredients and high status, theriac was expensive and exclusive.
-
Zinc lozenges suddenly became the theriac to cure all ills; masks and hand-sanitizer, the ambergris and zedoary to ward off infection.
Noun
-
Where InsurTech startups were once pitched as plug-and-play cure-alls, the talk now is of narrower tools trained on a single bottleneck, with the carrier keeping hold of the judgment.
-
The raves on TikTok won’t tell you this because, according to many of these videos, sardines are a skincare cure-all.
Cite this Entry
“Nostrum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nostrum. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
