CHRONIC Synonyms: 41 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'chronic' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words confirmed and inveterate are common synonyms of chronic . While all three words mean "firmly established," chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome. // a chronic complainer

Q: When can 'confirmed' be used instead of 'chronic'?

The words confirmed and chronic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform. // a confirmed bachelor

Q: When could 'inveterate' be used to replace 'chronic'?

While the synonyms inveterate and chronic are close in meaning, inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable. // an inveterate smoker

chronic

adjective

ˈkrä-nik

Definition of chronic

as in persistent

being such by habit and not likely to change a chronic smoker who has quit—many, many times

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How is the word chronic distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words confirmed and inveterate are common synonyms of chronic. While all three words mean "firmly established," chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome.

a chronic complainer

When can confirmed be used instead of chronic?

The words confirmed and chronic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform.

a confirmed bachelor

When could inveterate be used to replace chronic?

While the synonyms inveterate and chronic are close in meaning, inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable.

an inveterate smoker

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 chronic Though there is no cure for the chronic autoimmune condition, Johnson & Johnson’s latest treatment, Icotyde, may be a meaningful step forward for patients managing it. — Alice Park, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The first is a clearer scientific picture of what chronic stress does to cortisol curves. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 Yarros, who has Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, wrote Violet to be a hero with a chronic illness. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Human connection offers the most lasting pathway out of chronic homelessness, according to Alan Graham, who leads a housing nonprofit in Austin, Texas. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chronic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic

Adjective

The finance chiefs ended the meeting without a joint communique, underscoring persistent divisions among members over the Middle East conflict, trade imbalances, and Russia's war with Ukraine.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
When deployed in numbers, Archimedes units form a resilient defense grid, creating persistent protection for forces, facilities, and critical infrastructure.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

Concerns over a possible serial killer in Lansing, Michigan, have the Big Ten college town on edge.

— Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
As always, Howerton is the cast MVP, with his elastic, expressive face selling all of probable-serial killer Dennis’s most hyperbolic reactions.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of serial

Adjective

On the other, evidence suggests this pair of habitual time-wasters were commonly found on the floor, running laughter through a Yamaha SPX90 effects processor for kicks and strumming the same note for 40-odd minutes.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Inak primarily cites unresolved maintenance issues with his restaurant space, including habitual flooding.

— Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of habitual

Adjective

The Beach Boys’ touring machine has been going nearly nonstop for the last 65 or so years, as Stamos and Christian Love noted in the intro, driven by Mike as one of pop music’s most inveterate and even seemingly compulsive tourers.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
The cast features not just the creator, who makes the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype her own as ukulele troubadour Lulu, but also a pre-Bridgerton Jonathan Bailey in the wild role of an inveterate womanizer.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of inveterate

Adjective

Based on recent comments from Spoelstra, Richards is likely sticking around into the regular season.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
The 2017 draft pick discovered blood clots in his lung this summer and missed training camp and the first five weeks of the regular season because of it.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of regular

Adjective

With each new season, the series has expanded its audience base across both broadcast and streaming platforms, and this popularity has also translated into steady DVD sales.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Optimism among managers and above held steady at 59%, and 80% reported positive financial returns from AI, though only 28% called those returns strongly positive.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of steady

Adjective

Smith grew up in a small town in rural northern Alabama and became addicted to drugs as a teenager, his lawyers said in court documents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent for designing their apps in ways that caused children to become addicted and suffer mental-health harms.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of addicted

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“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of chronic

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