anaphylactic
Americanadjective
Explanation
Anything described as anaphylactic has to do with a dangerous allergy. Someone who has an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts can find their face and throat swelling, making it difficult to breathe. Anaphylactic shock is a full-blown, severe allergic reaction to something like shellfish, nuts, bee stings, or penicillin. This happens when a person's immune system is overly sensitive to specific substances and overreacts in response. An anaphylactic reaction can include itchiness, swelling, and hives, and it can be deadly if it isn't treated. The word comes from the Latin anaphylaxis, which means "exaggerated susceptibility."
Vocabulary lists containing anaphylactic
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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.
The most common symptoms are hives and gastrointestinal issues, but symptoms can progress to shortness of breath and even anaphylactic shock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Such reactions can range from responses with “no clinical manifestations” to irritating rashes to life-threatening conditions such as anaphylactic shock, which constricts breathing and impairs motor function.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026
“I was willing to risk anaphylactic shock for $7,000,” he once wrote there.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025
She's had three anaphylactic reactions, including when she was informed by restaurants that her meal didn't contain pine nuts.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2025
He didn’t think it was any more dangerous than playing with millions of stinging insects and risking anaphylactic shock.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
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.
