🦠 No immune response 😴 Lacking energy

anergic

9.9

Not showing a normal immune response to things that usually cause a reaction

adjective
/əˈnɜr.dʒɪk/

Specialized

: anérgico

In most reports, every patient with M. tuberculosis infection had a positive PPD test unless they were anergic.

Examples

This patient was anergic to other common test antigens as well.

Academic text (1995)
After the tests, it was confirmed that he was anergic to the specific allergens in question.
The doctor explained that the patient is anergic and does not respond to standard allergy tests.
Children who are anergic may show little reaction to vaccinations that usually trigger immune responses.

Synonyms

immunocompromised

vsanergic

Specialized

2 7.5

Not able to fight infections well

is focused on absent response to specific stimuli rather than broad impaired resistance

immunodeficient

vsanergic

Specialized

1 8.4

Not able to fight germs and infections well because the body's defences are weak

is a lack of normal response to specific antigens or stimuli

immunosuppressed

vsanergic

Specialized

1 7.4

Having a weak immune system makes you more likely to catch infections

is about lacking a normal response to particular antigens rather than general weakness

Antonyms

responsive

61 4.0

React quickly and helpfully to people and things

How Responsive

overreactive

1 6.3

responsive

61 4.0

anergic

Specialized

9.9

nonresponsive

Specialized

6.0

Surface Forms

anergic positive

Morphology

anergic = energic (semi-transparent) = an + erg + ic

The prefix 'an-' negates 'energic', but the specific medical context of immune response is not immediately clear.

Etymology

Anergic comes from Greek parts an- 'without' and ergon 'work', and it shares the same root as energy. In medicine it means the immune system or its cells are 'without work' and do not respond, which is why doctors use it for a lack of immune reaction.