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Synonyms

chronic

American  
[kron-ik] / ˈkrɒn ɪk /
Rarely chronical

adjective

  1. constant; habitual; inveterate.

    a chronic liar.
    Synonyms:
    hardened, confirmed

  2. continuing a long time or recurring frequently.

    a chronic state of civil war.

  3. having long had a disease, habit, weakness, or the like.

    a chronic invalid.

  4. (of a disease) having long duration (acute ).

noun

  1. Slang. cronic.

chronic British  
/ krɒˈnɪsɪtɪ, ˈkrɒnɪk /

adjective

  1. continuing for a long time; constantly recurring

  2. (of a disease) developing slowly, or of long duration Compare acute

  3. inveterate; habitual

    a chronic smoker

  4. informal

    1. very bad

      the play was chronic

    2. very serious

      he left her in a chronic condition
"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
chronic Scientific  
/ krŏn′ĭk /

  1. Relating to an illness or medical condition that is characterized by long duration or frequent recurrence. Diabetes and hypertension are chronic diseases.

  2. Compare acute

Other Word Forms

  • chronically adverb
  • chronicity noun
  • nonchronic adjective
  • nonchronical adjective
  • subchronic adjective
  • subchronical adjective
  • unchronic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chronic

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin chronicus, from Greek chronikós, equivalent to chrón(os) “time” + -ikos -ic

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.

Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals, which are linked to aging and many chronic diseases.

From Science Daily

He said he still suffers from chronic pain as a result of the rogue surgeon's operation.

From BBC

It may instead be where you pay the lowest taxes and where people have fewer chronic medical conditions, new research argues.

From MarketWatch

Offering outdoor activities and in-hospital games, the Painted Turtle describes itself as place where youth with life-threatening and chronic illnesses can “sing, dance, laugh, grow and discover their potential.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Association is also working with healthcare teams nationwide to strengthen collaboration among professionals caring for patients with multiple chronic conditions.

From Science Daily

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.