1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

panacea

noun

ˌpa-nə-ˈsē-ə How to pronounce panacea (audio)
Definition of panaceanext
as in remedy
something that cures all ills or problems a woman who seems to believe that chicken soup is a panacea for nearly everything

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 panacea Executive suites around the world have treated artificial intelligence as a magical, turnkey panacea—a single software deployment capable of magically cutting operating expenses, multiplying labor output and delivering immediate margins. — Ivan Illan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 But moving a school population to another location is no panacea. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 The establishment of a national regulatory body is not a panacea. — Robert Greifeld, CNBC, 27 July 2026 However, Justice Gray’s majority opinion was nothing close to a panacea for American Sinophobia. — Claire Ke, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for panacea
Recent Examples of Synonyms for panacea
  1. remedy
  2. cure
  3. elixir
  4. cure-all
  5. nostrum
Noun
  • Being unable to sell may preserve ownership, which can affect the statutory remedy available.
    — Ethan Stone, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
  • One possible remedy would be to make it so that glasses detect their location and automatically disable recording in sensitive areas like playgrounds and locker rooms.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of remedy
Noun
  • Dietitians describe arugula as a supportive habit, not a cure for digestive issues.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
  • If Bryan truly was ready to be a parent, and to put others above himself, the best way to demonstrate that fact would be to recognize that a cure is a good thing for the world his kid will inherit.
    — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of cure
Noun
  • The gentle, foaming elixir feels soft on skin, rinsing away dirt and makeup while hydrating and coddling with flaxseed oil.
    — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Viral memes and videos are often good for only ephemeral dopamine hits, but leave the elixir to the humor and talent of the Gregory Brothers, a longtime musical quartet.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of elixir
Noun
  • Very Well Health that the peppery green is helpful but should not be viewed as a cure-all.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Compression boots are not a cure-all, but for people managing swelling, recovering from workouts or living with lymphedema, consistent use paired with appropriate pressure settings and a broader routine can make the investment worthwhile.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of cure-all
Noun
  • Anderson found the origins of present fads in the fervent nostrums of the past.
    — David Denby, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of nostrum

Browse Nearby Words

pan
panacea
panaceas
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Panacea.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/panacea. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of argot

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of the words cracker fly and sale arranged in a triangle with the word fire in the middle
Triple Play Quiz Find the word that pairs with each of the three g...
See All