sclerotic
Americanadjective
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Anatomy. Also of or relating to the sclera.
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Pathology, Botany. pertaining to or affected with sclerosis.
adjective
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of or relating to the sclera
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of, relating to, or having sclerosis
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botany characterized by the hardening and strengthening of cell walls
noun
Other Word Forms
- subsclerotic adjective
Etymology
Origin of sclerotic
1535–45; < New Latin sclērōticus of hardening, equivalent to Greek sklērṓt ( ēs ) hardness (derivative of sklērós hard; sclero- ) + New Latin -icus -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.
Many of the country’s 93 million people were deeply dissatisfied with the sclerotic and often corrupt rule that characterized the 36-plus-year reign of his father.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
At the same time, insufficient funding, disproportionate outlays for salaries and pensions, and a domestic defense industry dominated by a sclerotic public sector have long been a drag on India’s military modernization.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
Meanwhile, with very poor demographics and a sclerotic economy, Japan is less likely to grow its way out of its debt problem than the U.S.
From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026
That is, they’re likely to make the housing market more sclerotic, make it harder for young families to afford homes, and increase inequality.
From Slate • Jan. 6, 2025
The cornea is quite continuous with the sclerotic but has a greater convexity.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various
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.
