antidote

[an-ti-doht]

noun

1. a medicine or other remedy for counteracting the effects of poison, disease, etc.

2. something that prevents or counteracts injurious or unwanted effects.

   Good jobs are the best antidote to teenage crime.

verb (used with object)

antidoted, antidoting 

1. to counteract with an antidote.

   Medication was given to antidote the poison the child had swallowed.

antidote

/ ˈæntɪˌdəʊt /

noun

1. med a drug or agent that counteracts or neutralizes the effects of a poison

2. anything that counteracts or relieves a harmful or unwanted condition; remedy

antidote

1. A substance that counteracts the effects of a poison.

Other Word Forms

• antidotal adjective
• antidotical adjective
• antidotally adverb
• antidotically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of antidote¹

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin antidotum < Greek antídoton something given against (i.e., for counteracting), equivalent to anti- anti- + dotón neuter of dotós given, verbid of didónai to give; akin to datum

Word History and Origins

Origin of antidote¹

C15: from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidoton something given as a countermeasure, from _anti- + didonai to give

Example Sentences

The look of desperate resignation on her face as Michael’s crew closes the door on her at the end of the first “Godfather” was the antidote to the look of icy determination on his face.

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If I have a frustrating call with a client or co-worker, Thomas is the instant antidote.

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For me, this is the antidote for the shame we have been taught to feel about our region.

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This prompted doctors to administer an antidote for the brake fluid.

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When Conti hackers attacked the Irish Health Service in 2021 they too gave their antidote away for free claiming not to have deliberately targeted hospitals.

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Related Words

• corrective 
• countermeasure 
• cure 
• remedy