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antipyretic

antipyretic

7.2
A medicine that lowers a fever
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiˈpaɪrɛtɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : antipirético
  • The doctor recommended an antipyretic to help lower the patient's temperature.

Examples

  • Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) was used for years as a painkiller and antipyretic before its use in reducing platelet stickiness was discovered.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Paracetamol was used as an antipyretic.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Aspirin, although it is an effective antipyretic, is not recommended for children because of the danger of Reye's syndrome (RS).

    Academic text (2007)
  • Paracetamol is a commonly used antipyretic that helps reduce fever.

  • Many people take ibuprofen as an antipyretic whenever they have a high fever.

Synonyms

acetaminophen
vsantipyretic
  • Specialized
11 4.1

A common pain medicine that reduces fever but not swelling

refers to the general class that lowers body temperature to fight fever
paracetamol
vsantipyretic
  • UK
2 2.5

A common pain medicine that also lowers fever

is the broader category for medicines that lower body temperature to stop fever
febrifuge
vsantipyretic
  • Archaic
9.9

A medicine that reduces fever

specifies lowering body temperature as the way to reduce or prevent fever

Antonyms

pyretic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Relating to or causing fever

How Effective

refrigeration
  • Specialized
1 4.5
cooling
42 2.7
antipyretic
  • Specialized
7.2

Surface Forms

antipyretic singular
antipyretics plural

Etymology

Antipyretic comes from anti- 'against' and pyretos 'fever', so an antipyretic is a medicine that fights fever and helps lower your body temperature.