antidote

American  

[an-ti-doht] / ˈæn tɪˌdoʊt /

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.

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verb (used with object)

antidoted, antidoting

1. to counteract with an antidote.

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

antidote British  

/ 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

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antidote Scientific  

/ ăn′tĭ-dōt′ /

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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of antidote

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

Compare meaning

How does antidote compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anecdote vs. antidote

Explanation

An antidote is a remedy that relieves. So if you get headaches from long bus rides, it's best to travel equipped with the key pain alleviating antidotes: Tylenol, lots of water and soothing music. A noun that comes all the way to us from the ancient Greek word antidoton, which means “given as a remedy,” an antidote counteracts or relieves the negative effects of something. You can find antidotes to poison, anxiety, sadness or even a bad day. People tend to think of medicinal cures when they hear the word antidote, but things like meditation, sleep, green tea, exercise or a good hug can all have positive, antidotal affects.

Example Sentences

When presented without theatrical aspect but as a private process of the imagination, it becomes a lavishly lovable antidote to our too often accepting the world’s absurdity only as dooms-scrollable tragedy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Somatic workout classes, characterized by minuscule clenches and releases, have exploded in popularity as an antidote to high-intensity exercise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Fan buzz around life-simulation game "Pokemon Pokopia" sent Nintendo shares soaring on Wednesday, with some hailing the new title as a welcome antidote to global conflicts.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The antidote to anxiety in the investment arena is developing a trading strategy that spells out how and when to make portfolio changes.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 5, 2026

In return he showed them how to protect themselves from the stings of poisonous insects and demonstrated the effectiveness of his antidote by placing a live scorpion on his arm.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• corrective
• countermeasure
• cure
• remedy