Synonyms of remedy

remedy 1 of 2

noun

ˈre-mə-dē 

1

as in cure

a substance or preparation used to treat disease

preferred to treat colds with a homemade remedy made from garlic

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cure
• drug
• medication
• medicine
• medicinal
• prescription
• pill
• potion
• specific
• medicament
• physic
• antibiotic
• pharmaceutical
• panacea
• syrup
• tonic
• prescription drug
• nostrum
• botanical
• cure-all
• tablet
• serum
• injection
• patent medicine
• salve
• wonder drug
• lotion
• tincture
• capsule
• ointment
• cap
• liniment
• poultice
• miracle drug
• purgative
• antiseptic
• cordial
• cathartic
• shot
• embrocation

2

as in antidote

something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable

the mayor was desperately searching for a remedy to the recent surge in crime the city had been experiencing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• antidote
• solution
• cure
• therapy
• therapeutic
• answer
• rectifier
• curative
• corrective
• panacea
• elixir
• cure-all
• medicine
• relief
• balm
• succor
• aid
• help
• medicinal
• palliative

remedy

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to cure

to bring about recovery from

a little extra studying should remedy your poor performance in history thus far this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cure
• heal
• alleviate
• relieve
• soothe
• treat
• mend
• allay
• ease
• assuage
• temper
• salve
• moderate
• lighten
• diagnose
• palliate
• medicate
• nurse
• doctor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aggravate
• worsen
• misdiagnose
• overdiagnose
• underdiagnose

2

as in to amend

to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from

needed to wear glasses to remedy her bad vision

Synonyms & Similar Words

• amend
• correct
• reform
• rectify
• rewrite
• change
• improve
• repair
• redress
• emend
• debug
• red-pencil
• right
• modify
• ameliorate
• revise
• better
• rework
• fix
• adjust
• perfect
• shorten
• regulate
• polish
• alter
• blue-pencil
• redraft
• redraw
• cut
• modulate
• restyle
• mend
• touch up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hurt
• harm
• impair
• damage
• injure
• spoil
• mar
• aggravate
• worsen

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb remedy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of remedy are amend, correct, emend, rectify, redress, reform, and revise. While all these words mean "to make right what is wrong," remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

How is amend related to other words for remedy?

Amend, reform, and revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes.

amend a law

When is it sensible to use correct instead of remedy?

The meanings of correct and remedy largely overlap; however, correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

When could emend be used to replace remedy?

The synonyms emend and remedy are sometimes interchangeable, but emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

When is rectify a more appropriate choice than remedy?

While the synonyms rectify and remedy are close in meaning, rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

When can redress be used instead of remedy?

While in some cases nearly identical to remedy, redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

In what contexts can reform take the place of remedy?

Although the words reform and remedy have much in common, reform implies drastic change.

plans to reform the court system

When might revise be a better fit than remedy?

In some situations, the words revise and remedy are roughly equivalent. However, revise suggests a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of remedy

Noun

Jordan Grimes, a housing advocate with Peninsula for Everyone, warned that rejecting the farmworker project could make the state less willing to approve Half Moon Bay’s housing plan, prolonging the city’s exposure to the builder’s remedy. — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 27 July 2026

In the initial stages of infection, the pathogen would resemble a known illness—one vulnerable to standard vaccines or drug remedies. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

Verb

The product’s ceramide inclusion is also joined by skin care’s workhorse hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, plus sea buckthorn, which aids with brightening and thereby remedies dark spots. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 July 2026

Nick Cross is another free agent addition that has the potential to help remedy this problem. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 July 2026