Synonyms and antonyms of Words used to describe medical treatments, appliances and medicines in British Thesaurus

antenatal (adjective)

British relating to the medical care of pregnant women, or to the time before a baby is born

antibacterial (adjective)

effective in killing bacteria

aseptic (adjective)

not infected with bacteria, or preventing infection from bacteria

bionic (adjective)

bionic body parts are artificial electronic parts that replace body parts that have been removed or do not work correctly

bloodless (adjective)

without giving someone blood during a medical operation

broad-spectrum (adjective)

able to be used against a wide range of different illnesses or insects

clear (adjective)

if a medical test is clear, it shows that there is nothing wrong

clinical (adjective)

involving working with people who are ill, rather than in a laboratory

combination (noun)

using several types of treatment or drugs

conventional (adjective)

conventional medical treatments are the type of modern medical treatments based on drugs and operations used by most doctors in Europe, North America etc. The expression conventional medicine is often used when comparing these methods with alternative medicine.

corrective (adjective)

formal designed to solve or improve a physical problem

curative (adjective)

formal used for curing an illness

diagnostic (adjective)

used for finding out what physical or mental problem someone has

elective (adjective)

elective medical treatment is treatment that you choose to have, rather than treatment that is necessary

emollient (adjective)

formal designed to make your skin softer or less painful

fast-acting (adjective)

a fast-acting drug has an effect very quickly

for external use ()

if a medicine is for external use, it is intended to be used on the outside of your body only and must not be swallowed

gynaecological (adjective)

relating to medical conditions and diseases that affect women and their reproductive organs

gynecological ()

the American spelling of gynaecological

habit-forming (adjective)

a habit-forming drug is one that makes you need to use it all the time, even though it is bad for you

hallucinatory (adjective)

causing hallucinations

hallucinatory (adjective)

similar to a hallucination

hallucinogenic (adjective)

causing hallucinations

health (noun)

relating to medical care

holistic (adjective)

based on the idea that you should take care of your whole body and mind, rather than just treating a part of the body that is ill

homeopathic (adjective)

relating to or using homeopathy

homoeopathic ()

another spelling of homeopathic

hypodermic (adjective)

a hypodermic needle or syringe is used for putting drugs into your body through the skin

intravenous (adjective)

put directly into a vein

invasive (adjective)

medical invasive medical treatment involves putting something into someone’s body or cutting into someone’s body

IV (abbreviation)

intravenous

IV (abbreviation)

intravenously

lifesaving (adjective)

done in order to prevent someone from dying

manipulative (adjective)

medical relating to the use of the hands to move or press part of someone’s body as part of a medical treatment

med (adjective)

mainly Americaninformal medical

medical (adjective)

relating to medicine and the treatment of injuries and diseases

medicated (adjective)

containing a substance that kills bacteria or that makes you feel or look healthier

medicinal (adjective)

capable of treating an illness

mild (adjective)

mild drugs, cosmetics etc are very gentle and not likely to have any bad effects

mind-bending (adjective)

informal mind-bending drugs make you see or hear things that are not real

minor (adjective)

a minor medical operation is fairly simple and not dangerous

narcotic (adjective)

medical able to make you feel less pain and help you sleep

narcotic (adjective)

relating to a narcotic, especially when used illegally

negative (adjective)

showing that a particular condition, disease, or substance is not present

nil by mouth ()

used as a sign on the bed of someone in hospital meaning that they should not eat or drink anything

non-invasive (adjective)

a non-invasive medical test or treatment does not involve cutting your body or putting instruments inside it

non-prescription (adjective)

non-prescription medicines are ones that you can buy without written permission from a doctor

non-specific (adjective)

medical a non-specific drug or treatment affects more than one part of your body

on prescription ()

if a medicine is on prescription, you can only get it if you have a piece of paper from your doctor

oral (adjective)

oral medicine is taken by mouth

orthopaedic (adjective)

medical relating to the medical treatment of injuries and diseases affecting bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments

orthopaedic (adjective)

designed to be used by people with injuries or diseases affecting their bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments

orthopedic ()

an American spelling of orthopaedic

over the counter ()

drugs and medicines that are available over the counter can be bought without a doctor’s prescription

over-the-counter (adjective)

over-the-counter medicine can be bought from a shop without a prescription from a doctor

paediatric (adjective)

relating to the part of medicine dealing with children and their diseases

palliative (adjective)

reducing the pain or other bad effects of a terminal illness (=one that cannot be cured)

paramedical (adjective)

helping doctors and nurses to provide medical treatment

performance-enhancing (adjective)

a performance-enhancing drug or substance is something taken illegally by someone involved in sport to make them stronger, faster etc

pharmaceutical (adjective)

relating to the production or sale of medicines and drugs used for treating medical conditions

positive (adjective)

a positive result in a medical test means that the person has the disease or condition that was tested for

post-op (adjective)

informal postoperative

postoperative (adjective)

done or happening after a medical operation

potent (adjective)

if a drug, medicine, or chemical is potent, it has a strong effect

powerful (adjective)

a powerful drug or chemical has a strong effect

prophylactic (adjective)

intended to prevent disease or infection

prosthetic (adjective)

used for replacing a missing body part

psychedelic (adjective)

psychedelic drugs are drugs that make you see things that are not really there

psychiatric (adjective)

connected with the treatment of mental illness

psychoactive (adjective)

a psychoactive drug affects a person’s mental state and often their behaviour

remedial (adjective)

intended to treat or cure a medical condition

sanitary (adjective)

a sanitary process or method is one that keeps things healthy and clean, especially by killing bacteria

surgical (adjective)

connected with medical operations, or used for medical operations

therapeutic (adjective)

helping to treat or cure illness

under the knife ()

used for saying that someone is having a medical operation

well-woman (adjective)

a well-woman clinic or health programme is created to encourage and support good health in women