Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
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.

Over time, chronic inflammation can damage cells and cause genetic changes that lead to cancer.

From Science Daily

Because of this, the red blood cells can block blood flow to the rest of the body and can cause chronic pain, strokes, lung problems, infections and kidney disease.

From Los Angeles Times

Zepbound is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition.

From The Wall Street Journal

As the population grows older and diabetes becomes more common, chronic wounds are affecting more people than ever.

From Science Daily

But the teenager says her "future is on hold" after being diagnosed with a rare chronic illness that leaves her unable to sit up.

From BBC

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.