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healer

healer

101 3.9
A person who helps others get better from physical or mental sickness, often using traditional ways
  • noun
  • /ˈhiːlər/
translation icon : curandero
  • Many villagers rely on a healer for natural remedies to treat their ailments.
  • a traditional healer
  • a faith healer
  • a folk healer

I have some very wise elders and healers that I lean on.

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Examples

  • I could not travel with them but by then I was blessed to have found a fine local healer.

  • He sees himself as a healer.

  • And I heard from the healer, this is not yours to keep.

  • The king needs a healer.

  • The power of the shaman, the power of the healer is based on four things.

  • I've made my decision to run to you, the healer that I need.

  • The contributions of traditional healers are numerous and critical in their respective communities.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A crucial function of traditional healers is to make preventive medicine for their clients.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Others were unanimous in their agreement that traditional healers perform useful functions.

    Academic text (1999)
  • He's a Reiki healer, but he's much more than that.

Synonyms

nurse
vshealer
1.0

A person trained to care for sick people under a doctor's supervision

may instead refer to an independent skilled practitioner using chosen methods
physician
vshealer
  • Specialized
674 3.8

A doctor who finds what is wrong and treats sick or injured people

is not limited to licensed medicine and can include traditional methods
therapist
vshealer
508 3.7

A trained person who helps people with physical or mental health problems

is broader, covering many traditions and methods beyond a single therapy
32 2.5

Someone or somewhere that gives medical care, for example a doctor

is focused on persons skilled at treating often by chosen methods
psychotherapist
vshealer
27 5.5

A person who helps others with mental and emotional problems by talking and giving support

can also mean treating illness by other clinical or traditional techniques
clinician
vshealer
  • Specialized
22 4.5

A health worker who treats patients directly

is about skilled treating often named by a particular practice or tradition
medicine man
vshealer
19 7.4

A person in some tribes who heals people and leads spiritual rituals

applies to skilled treating more broadly, not only spiritual rituals
witch doctor
vshealer
18 8.2

A person in some cultures who uses rituals and plant medicines to heal people

covers skilled treating that may rely on various nonmagical or medical methods
herbalist
vshealer
9 5.5

A person who uses plants to make medicine for health

often covers skilled treating but may use other methods besides plants
general practitioner
vshealer
  • Specialized
7 2.7

A doctor who treats common illnesses and sends patients to specialists

may instead imply a focus on a particular method or tradition
naturopath
vshealer
  • Specialized
3 8.6

A person who uses natural treatments to help the body heal itself

can include many traditions or methods beyond purely natural approaches
rehabilitator
vshealer
1 6.1

A person who helps people and animals get better after illness or injury

focuses more on skilled curing by specific practices rather than only recovery
curer
vshealer
1 7.0

Someone or something that heals sickness and makes people better

often uses a specific method or tradition to treat illnesses
priest-doctor
vshealer
9.9

A person who talks with spirits to heal people or tell the future

refers to skilled treatment across traditions, not only ritual roles
treater
vshealer
  • Specialized
6.9

A person who cares for people who are sick or hurt

often implies practice within a specific tradition or healing method

How Skilled

specialist
352 3.9
expert
3.2
healer
101 3.9
practitioner
120 4.0
caregiver
  • US
79 3.2

Surface Forms

healer singular
healers plural

Morphology

healer = heal (transparent) = heal + er

Agentive noun formed by adding the productive suffix '-er' to the verb 'heal', yielding 'one who heals', which is directly inferable by learners.

Etymology

Healer comes from the Old English word hælan, which means 'to make whole', and you can see the same idea in heal, health, and whole, so a healer is someone who helps make a person whole or well again.