antiviral agent
1
3.5
- noun
- /ˌæntiˈvaɪrəl ˈeɪdʒənt/
- Specialized
:
agente antiviral
- The doctor prescribed an antiviral agent to help fight the viral infection.
- oseltamivir antiviral agent
Examples
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Thus, antiviral agents also need to gain access to the CNS.
Academic text (2000) -
There is pressing demand for safe, effective antiviral agents to be used alone or in conjunction with IFN.
Academic text (1994) -
There are many new antiviral agents for HIV infection under development.
Academic text (2000) -
An important pharmacokinetic consideration for any antiviral agent is its distribution in the body.
Academic text (2000) -
Her research interests include influenza viruses and mechanisms of resistance to antiviral agents.
Academic text (2013) -
The design of new antiviral agents is dependent on knowledge of HBV replication.
Academic text (1994) -
IFN-Is in combination with the antiviral agent ribavirin have long been the main anti-HCV therapy.
Academic text (2017) -
The antiviral drugs tested included FDA-approved medications and investigational antiviral agents.
Academic text (2013) -
Researchers continue to study new antiviral agents that can eliminate harmful viruses.
-
During flu season, many hospitals stockpile antiviral agents to treat patients quickly.
Synonyms
8
3.8
A medicine that stops viruses from growing or making more copies
4
3.7
A medicine that stops viruses from growing in the body
3
8.8
A medicine that treats herpes infections but does not cure them
A substance that kills viruses or makes them stop working
A substance that kills viruses on surfaces
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'antiviral' (preventing or acting against viruses) + 'agent' (a substance or thing that produces an effect), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer this refers to a substance or drug that inhibits viruses. Although somewhat technical, the anti- + viral logic and the noun 'agent' are cross-linguistically common, making the compound readily understandable to B1 learners who know the parts.
Etymology
Antiviral agent is made of parts you can picture: anti- means 'against', viral refers to a 'virus', and agent is something that acts. Imagine a tiny helper that attacks and stops a virus, and you have the idea behind 'a drug that fights or stops viruses'.