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panacea

panacea

17 9.6
A supposed cure for all problems
  • noun
  • /ˌpænəˈsiːə/
translation icon : panacea
  • My mother tries to calm me down by administering her old panacea, milk and honey.
  • panacea for all ills
  • panacea for all problems
  • quick fix or panacea

I would also say that no one bullet is a panacea and you're an athlete.

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Examples

  • Elections are not a panacea, and individual freedom must be protected by a strong constitution.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Kissing in the classroom is no panacea for all that ails contemporary education.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Modern medicine in some ways has become a panacea for the problems created by modern living.

  • And no doubt your love has proved to be a panacea too.

  • To be fair, genetic engineering is not a panacea for agriculture and food supply.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Note that although these technologies offer great promise, they are not the panacea for students' writing difficulties.

    Academic text (2015)
  • There is, of course, no panacea for global financial crises.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Community colleges and ADN programs are not the panacea to all of our nation's social inequities.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Tech-prep is viewed as a panacea for the ills of education.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Many people believe that a healthy diet is a panacea for all ailments.

Synonyms

cure-all
vspanacea
7 7.5

A medicine that people say cures every illness but often does not work

is presented as a universal solution without the explicit note of doubt
magic bullet
vspanacea
1 5.5

A treatment like a drug that cures or prevents a disease quickly and effectively

is used for a universal solution not just a quick medical cure
panpharmacon
vspanacea
  • Archaic
9.9

A solution people think will solve every problem

is used for universal solutions focusing on health and everyday difficulties
catholicon
vspanacea
  • Archaic
9.9

A medicine said to cure every disease

is a general belief in a universal solution not an old alchemist cure

Antonyms

99 4.1

Something that makes a plan or situation harder to deal with

How Effective

panacea
17 9.6
cure
771 2.5
remedy
77 3.4
treatment
  • Specialized
2.1
placebo
  • Specialized
61 6.0

Surface Forms

panacea singular
panaceas plural

Etymology

Panacea comes from the Greek name Panakeia, which means 'all-healing' and uses pan- 'all' plus a word for 'cure'. So a panacea today is a 'cure' or solution that is supposed to fix everything, which is why people often say there is no true panacea.