as in nostrum
something that cures all ills or problems
the wizard's attempts to concoct a theriac for the king came to naught
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Recent Examples of theriac
But with its long list of as many as 80 ingredients and high status, theriac was expensive and exclusive.
—
Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Zinc lozenges suddenly became the theriac to cure all ills; masks and hand-sanitizer, the ambergris and zedoary to ward off infection.
—Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020
Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Zinc lozenges suddenly became the theriac to cure all ills; masks and hand-sanitizer, the ambergris and zedoary to ward off infection.
—Spencer Strub, The New York Review of Books, 25 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for theriac
Noun
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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
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But Wolff’s work and influence, alongside a simultaneous rise in the fields of psychology and psychosomatic medicine, helped to disperse those nostrums into the wider culture—and into the prevailing paradigm within which other headache scientists and clinicians toiled.—
Tom Zeller Jr.
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Plus, unlike other breezy elixirs of its ilk, this one lasts throughout the day with no need to reapply.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
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Arenas – a McDonald’s All-American and the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas – was not a magic elixir, and the Trojans struggled to find another solution in a 74-68 loss to a Northwestern team that had been winless in conference play.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There is a bit of an ideological bent to the debate over whether, for example, federal courts can provide remedies for unconstitutional actions by federal officers without an express act of Congress.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Do not make your own elderberry remedies without consulting experts on how to make them safely.—
Julie Scott,
Verywell Health,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Either way, this won’t be a panacea for slow home sales, because a large number of people still have sub-4% mortgages.—
Brad Hunter,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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But as other leagues have shown, a cap is not necessarily a panacea for competitive balance, even with an accompanying salary floor.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That cold, salty air is the cure for the common dislike of cold.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
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While research is advancing, there is no cure for the disease, although medications are available to manage symptoms.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theriac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theriac. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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