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Synonyms

chronic

American  
[kron-ik] / ˈkrɒn ɪk /
Rarely chronical

adjective

  1. constant; habitual; inveterate.

    a chronic liar.
    Synonyms:
    hardened, confirmed

  2. continuing a long time or recurring frequently.

    a chronic state of civil war.

  3. having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like.

    a chronic invalid.

  4. (of a disease) having long duration (acute ).

noun

  1. Slang. cronic.

chronic British  
/ krɒˈnɪsɪtɪ, ˈkrɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. continuing for a long time; constantly recurring

  2. (of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration Compare acute

  3. inveterate; habitual

    a chronic smoker

  4. informal

    1. very bad

      the play was chronic

    2. very serious

      he left her in a chronic condition
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
chronic Scientific  
/ krŏn′ĭk /

  1. Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases.

  2. Compare acute

Other Word Forms

  • chronically adverb
  • chronicity noun
  • nonchronic adjective
  • nonchronical adjective
  • subchronic adjective
  • subchronical adjective
  • unchronic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chronic

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) “time” + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Growth drivers include increasing chronic kidney disease prevalence, better affordability supported by public health programs, and rising disposable incomes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The pair were already showing “very chronic stress behavior” in L.A.,

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The company plans to seek priority FDA review for Tyvaso to treat IPF, a chronic, progressive lung disease.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The typical Truemed user is between 35 and 50 years old and is trying to address at least one chronic condition using lifestyle interventions like exercise before getting a prescription, Mare noted.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

He always believed that the chronic illness resulted from his brush with death in 1603.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.