synergism
Americannoun
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Biochemistry, Pharmacology. the joint action of agents, as drugs, that when taken together increase each other's effectiveness (antagonism ).
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Theology. the doctrine that the human will cooperates with the Holy Ghost in the work of regeneration.
noun
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Also called: synergy. the working together of two or more drugs, muscles, etc, to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects
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another name for synergy
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Christian theol the doctrine or belief that the human will cooperates with the Holy Spirit and with divine grace, esp in the act of conversion or regeneration
Usage
What does synergism mean? Synergism is a less common word for synergy, which refers to when an interaction of elements produces an effect that is greater than the effect that would have resulted from simply adding up the effects of each individual element. In other words, it is what happens when a combination of things produces an effect or result that is said to be “greater than the sum of its parts.”When you combine things—chemicals, ingredients, people—you often expect these things to interact in a certain way based on what has been included. But when something extra happens, something greater, this is synergism. The word implies that the magic is in the combination, as opposed to in the individual elements themselves. Synergism is also used in a more specific way in the context of medicine to refer to the cooperation between multiple body parts, such as muscles or nerves, or the interaction of drugs or other stimuli. The things that cooperate in this way can be called synergists. The opposite of this—when parts work against each other—is called antagonism. The adjective synergistic can be used to describe a combination that produces such an effect or things that work together in this way. Example: The cooperation between these departments produced a synergism that led to great success.
Etymology
Origin of synergism
First recorded in 1755–65; from New Latin synergismus, from Greek synerg(ós), “working together” ( syn- syn- + érg(on) work + -os adjective suffix) + New Latin -ismus -ism
Compare meaning
How does synergism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
"Efficient transmission of influenza virus results from synergism among multiple viral gene segments," she says.
From Science Magazine • May 2, 2013
"If somebody believes that kind of synergism will help, then I think that's good," he said.
From Seattle Times • May 13, 2010
"There is no synergism in Trans World," claimed Lester Pollack, a general partner in Odyssey.
From Time Magazine Archive
He also believes that this same pair get together in another synergism to maintain body heat.
From Time Magazine Archive
The sixth part, directed against synergism bore the title: "Confutatio Corruptelarum in Articulo de Libero Arbitrio sive de Viribus Humanis—Confutation of the Corruptions in the Article Concerning Free Will or Concerning the Human Powers."
From Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Bente, F. (Friedrich)
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.
