antiviral

[ an-tahy-vahy-ruhl, an-tee- ]

/ ˌæn taɪˈvaɪ rəl, ˌæn ti- /

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adjective

Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology.

(of a drug or therapy) developed to effectively treat an infection caused by a virus.
of or relating to a substance used to prevent or treat a viral infection:Raw garlic has been found to have antiviral properties.

Computers. (of software) programmed to detect, neutralize, and remove computer viruses.

noun

Medicine/Medical, Pharmacology. an antiviral drug, other substance, or therapy.

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Origin of antiviral

First recorded in 1925–30; anti- + viral

Words nearby antiviral

antivaccination, antivax, antivaxxer, antivenin, antivenom, antiviral, antivirus, antivitamin, antivivisection, antivivisectionist, antiwar

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use antiviral in a sentence

One of the earliest contenders was remdesivir, an antiviral from biotech giant Gilead.
Gilead just got the first FDA coronavirus treatment approval, but there are still problems|Sy Mukherjee|October 22, 2020|Fortune
Interferon is an immune system chemical that triggers the body’s antiviral defenses.
Remdesivir doesn’t reduce COVID-19 deaths, a large WHO trial finds|Tina Hesman Saey|October 16, 2020|Science News
Now, antiviral treatments for hepatitis C can cure nearly 95 percent of infected patients.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to the trio that discovered hepatitis C|Sara Kiley Watson|October 5, 2020|Popular-Science
The notorious chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are also antivirals, but this pair has yet to show any promise.
These are the best COVID-19 treatments right now|Claire Maldarelli|October 5, 2020|Popular-Science

Ideally, production of the antiviral substance would be triggered when immune cells encounter SARS-CoV-2 genetic material, stopping rapid viral reproduction inside the body and averting complications, he said.
Covid-19 scientists flag key immune function as a turning point in life threatening cases|kdunn6|September 25, 2020|Fortune
There is no known effective antiviral drug, no vaccine, and no preventative medication.
Yosemite Hanta Virus: Nature Strikes Back|Kent Sepkowitz|September 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A low count spelled serious trouble, whereas high and stable numbers were seen in those with a good response to antiviral drugs.
New Thai-Taiwanese Syndrome Is Not AIDS 2.0|Kent Sepkowitz|August 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It proved resistant to every one of the antibiotics and antiviral agents in the Lancet's stockroom.
Star Surgeon|Alan Nourse

British Dictionary definitions for antiviral

antiviral

/ (ˌæntɪˈvaɪrəl) /

adjective

inhibiting the growth of viruses

noun

any antiviral drug: used to treat diseases caused by viruses, such as herpes infections and AIDS

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