MEDICINAL Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

medicinal 1 of 2

adjective

mə-ˈdis-nəl

Definition of medicinal

as in healing

tending to cure disease or restore health even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in healthy

beneficial to the health of body or mind if gin and tonic is the medicinal potion that he claims, then he's done a lot of self-medication of late

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

medicinal

2 of 2

noun

mə-ˈdis-nəl

as in drug

a substance or preparation used to treat disease the discovery that the plant is a potent medicinal once it has been refined

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 medicinal

Adjective

These impositions are gradual and incredibly well-meaning, although even their medicinal intentions come laced with the word of a foreign lord and savior, whose crucifixes and tales of forgiveness are at odds with the local rituals. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026 The insects, which were approximately 5 mm long and dark in color, were discovered feeding on fresh pine bark brought to the country for medicinal purposes, officials said. — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Noun

Others have a more functional endeavor, foraging for food or medicinals. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for medicinal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for medicinal

Adjective

The compound also acts as a potent antioxidant, neutralizing unstable molecules that build up in non-healing wounds and cause cellular damage.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Other symptoms include non-healing or bleeding wounds and feeling or seeing the maggots.

— Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Definition of healing

Adjective

The pope isn’t known to be a smoker and has made efforts to have a healthy lifestyle, but there is a history of cancer in his immediate family.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Because your husband should totally be your mentor, that’s a very healthy power dynamic!

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of healthy

Noun

In cell cultures, the researchers found that gamma delta T cells could kill the cancer cells when redirected by the drug.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Almost all Florida seniors will be affected as Medicare Advantage plans pare benefits and raise deductibles, while traditional Medicare sees higher Part D out-of-pocket spending caps and the elimination of $0-premium standalone drug plans.

— Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of drug

Adjective

Burning is restorative not only for the ecosystem, Briggs-Cloud wrote, but for the community’s spiritual life.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Far away from the ceaseless whirring of small aircraft transporting tourists on aerial tours of the falls, this stillness, punctuated only by birdsong, feels beautifully restorative.

— Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of restorative

Adjective

Graduation rates continue to rise, but the number of students who require remedial coursework after high school remains high.

— Matt Williams, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Public agencies can buy from or encourage corporate procurers to buy from those AI providers that have complied with remedial measures or provided access to evaluators.

— Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of remedial

Browse Nearby Words

medications

medicinal

medicinals

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of medicinal

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes