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dexamethasone

American  
[dek-suh-meth-uh-sohn, -zohn] / ˌdɛk səˈmɛθ əˌsoʊn, -ˌzoʊn /

noun

Pharmacology.
  1. a crystalline, water-soluble steroid, C 22 H 29 FO 5 , used in the treatment of certain allergic or inflammatory conditions, as rheumatoid arthritis, bronchial asthma, or dermatosis.


Etymology

Origin of dexamethasone

First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps Dexa(myl) + meth(yl) + -a- (of uncertain origin) + (corti)sone

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:

After confirming eligibility, participants underwent a dexamethasone suppression test.

From Science Daily Mar. 30, 2026

The FDA approved Blenrep for multiple myeloma in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, but only for later-stage patients.

From Barron's Oct. 24, 2025

By that point, new treatments had been discovered, including the cheap steroid dexamethasone, and the first Covid vaccines were starting to be rolled out in small numbers.

From BBC Nov. 11, 2024

It's imperative that further research be carried out to see whether the keto diet has a similar effect in humans — and crucially, whether treatment with dexamethasone delays the onset of cachexia in humans, too.

From Salon Jun. 21, 2023

At 25,000 feet he paused to give Pittman another injection of dexamethasone, and then everyone stopped for a long time at Camp Three to rest and rehydrate.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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