palliative

[ pal-ee-ey-tiv, -ee-uh-tiv ]

/ ˈpæl iˌeɪ tɪv, -i ə tɪv /

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See synonyms for: palliative / palliatives on Thesaurus.com

adjective

serving to palliate.

noun

something that palliates.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of palliative

From the French word palliatif, dating back to 1535–45. See palliate, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM palliative

pal·li·a·tive·ly, adverbnon·pal·li·a·tive, adjectivenon·pal·li·a·tive·ly, adverbun·pal·li·a·tive, adjective

Words nearby palliative

pallet truck, pallial, palliasse, palliate, palliation, palliative, palliative care, pallid, pallium, pall-mall, pallor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use palliative in a sentence

Jhaimy requested a consultation with the palliative care team, which specializes in helping critically ill patients and their families make treatment decisions.
Dying on the Waitlist|by David Armstrong and Marshall Allen|February 18, 2021|ProPublica
Several patients who were sent home for palliative care rebounded and lived, thanks to the presence and support of their friends and family who couldn't be with them inside of the hospital, the officials said.
The Hospital System Sent Patients With Coronavirus Home to Die. Louisiana Legislators Are Demanding an Investigation.|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 14, 2020|ProPublica
A day later, Winston’s family got a call from a member of the palliative care team, recommending she move to hospice, they said.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica
He said he would be “very worried about trying to manage that” in home hospice, and that dying patients at his hospital were provided palliative support through an inpatient program.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica

The palliative care service was available to patients from hospitals across New York City.
Sent Home to Die|by Annie Waldman and Joshua Kaplan|September 2, 2020|ProPublica
Palliative sedation would have relieved her pain, it is true.
U.K. Courts Grant Mother Right to End Her 12-Year-Old Disabled Daughter’s Life|Elizabeth Picciuto|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She said, 'I have learnt that delivering the best possible palliative care to children is vital.
Kate's First Speech on Foreign Soil|Tom Sykes|September 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Yet now, Obama has need for more—much more—than a jolly, ruddy dude who serves as a racial palliative.
Hillary in 2012|Tunku Varadarajan|August 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I found a solution in palliative care—which is dedicated to minimizing pain and keeping the chronically ill out of the hospital.
Meet America's Overworked Caregivers|Gail Sheehy|April 30, 2010|DAILY BEAST
This is palliative care—a return of some control to people during a passage in life that is uncontrollable.
The Right to Die at Home|Gail Sheehy|March 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Yes, but in my friend's opinion, as you will see if you read on a little further, this journey is only a palliative measure.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
So palliative; but all the stark wickedness that actually gives the momentum to national actors.
Notes & Queries, No. 53. Saturday, November 2, 1850|Various
No measure, therefore, could be more than a palliative until they got a "Republican" system of education.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman
No ameliorative, no palliative, no restrictive, no remedial measure will avail.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind|Herbert George Wells
The operation is useful as a diagnostic or palliative measure.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for palliative

palliative

/ (ˈpælɪətɪv) /

adjective

serving to palliate; relieving without curing

noun

something that palliates, such as a sedative drug or agent

Derived forms of palliative

palliatively, adverb

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

palliative

Origin of palliative

OTHER WORDS FROM palliative

Words nearby palliative

Words related to palliative

How to use palliative in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for palliative

Derived forms of palliative