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arthritic

American  
[ahr-thrit-ik] / ɑrˈθrɪt ɪk /

adjective

  1. relating to, having, or experiencing arthritis.

  2. creaky, slow-moving, misshapen, etc., as if affected with arthritis: The road was overhung with what looked like arthritic trees, warped and bent to the whims of the wind.

    The next few days passed at the speed of an arthritic tortoise.

    The road was overhung with what looked like arthritic trees, warped and bent to the whims of the wind.


noun

  1. a person with arthritis.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of arthritic

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin arthrīticus, from Greek arthrītikós; replacing Middle English artetik, from Old French artetique, from Latin, as above; see arthr-, -itic

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.

See Examples For:

Barney had previously visited Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, external, who starred in The Supervet, on a number of occasions, including to treat his arthritic joints.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

But in 2024, she underwent surgery to rebuild her arthritic right knee, if only to improve her day-to-day life in retirement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

Perhaps surprisingly, given the inflammatory pathways discussed above, the researchers also found a heightened risk of arthritic disorders in patients using GLP-1 drugs, compared to usual treatment.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2025

One habitat held Niles and Daphne Crane, a pair of arthritic sandhill cranes named after characters from the sitcom “Frasier.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2024

Esvans Harth rem ir Estraven was an old man, past seventy, crippled by an arthritic disease of the hips.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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