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Synonyms

cure-all

American  
[kyoor-awl] / ˈkyʊərˌɔl /

noun

  1. a remedy for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; panacea.

cure-all British  

noun

  1. something reputed to cure all ailments

"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

Etymology

Origin of cure-all

First recorded in 1785–95

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.

A personal loan can be a powerful tool for consolidating high-interest debt, but it’s far from a cure-all.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

The term derives from the white crystalline powder used in cleaning, soldering, glass making and in pesticides, which in centuries past was sold as a cure-all.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

However, non-custodial sentences are not necessarily a cure-all.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

Like any fire prevention measure, private hydrants are not a cure-all, especially in the extreme conditions faced by firefighters during the first days of the Palisades and Eaton fires.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2025

Velma T. working on the cure-all for whatever ails you.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

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.