Synonyms

arthritic

American

[ahr-thrit-ik] / ɑrˈθrɪt ɪk /

adjective

relating to, having, or experiencing arthritis.
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

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.

Vonn had retired in 2019, her body battered by repeated crashes, her right knee arthritic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Yeah, that won’t take time and effort, and did I mention she was there for treatment of her arthritic hands?

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2026

The study found that treating arthritic mice with RvT4 reduced blood vessel inflammation by re-programming macrophages -- a group of white blood cells that accumulate in the diseased vessels -- to release stored lipids.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 2024

Kassam points to plenty of other examples, including reduced arthritic pain and a lower risk of urinary tract infections.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2024

So I desisted, just as I would have slowed down to an arthritic pace in any job, in the event that a manager showed up to do a time-and-motion study.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023