as in nostrum
something that cures all ills or problems
the wizard's attempts to concoct a theriac for the king came to naught
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 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
-
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
Noun
-
The Roman writers Celsus and Pliny the Elder attest to these beliefs; people lined up to avail themselves of bodily elixirs.—
Cullen Murphy,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
-
Via peptides, keratin, fermented rice powder, and botanical extract—cocktailed into a watery serum—this elixir is one of the most potent topical thickening agents.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
10 June 2026
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.—
Rebecca Boone,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
-
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.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
And environmentalists like Patrick McDonough warn that building more desal plants up and down the California coast isn't the panacea for the Colorado River crisis.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
3 June 2026
-
Cons to Using Orange Peels While often touted as a panacea around the garden, orange peels have some downsides.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
At least 100 of these California workers have undergone or are awaiting a lung transplant, a complicated procedure that extends life but does not provide a long-term cure.—
David Michaels,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
-
Once plants are infected, there is no cure.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Theriac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/theriac. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
