pharmaceutical

noun

Definition of pharmaceuticalnext
as in drug
a substance or preparation used to treat disease some pharmaceuticals can be quite risky unless taken correctly

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pharmaceutical Iranian economic experts say both the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors also rely on imports from countries such as Brazil and Turkey. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026 That range covers a variety of applications, including pasteurization and sterilization of dairy products, cooking and cleaning in food production, and distillation processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026 In 2011, researchers at Takeda, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, found a chemical compound that could block the orexin receptor, and so promote sleep. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026 His wealth surge followed the news this Wednesday that Moderna and pharmaceutical company Merck’s mRNA cancer vaccine hit its goals in a Phase 3 trial targeting melanoma. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pharmaceutical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pharmaceutical
  1. drug
  2. medication
  3. medicine
  4. remedy
  5. cure
Noun
  • Grande became the face of an ongoing conversation around health, and the cultural pendulum swing away from body positivity to the glorification of thinness, ignited by the proliferation of weight-loss drugs.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers spent decades trying to target a group of mutations called RAS — responsible for nearly a third of all human cancers — but the protein’s flat shape defied typical drugs.
    — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of drug
Noun
  • Health care providers may also recommend sleep medications for short-term relief, but these are generally viewed as temporary tools rather than permanent solutions, explains Troxel.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Citing medical privacy laws, Ryan Gustin, a spokesperson for CoreCivic, declined to answer questions about Bartko’s allegations that her medication was confiscated and withheld from her for nearly two weeks.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of medication
Noun
  • Prosecutors allege Clancy planned the killings by sending her husband to pick up takeout food and medicine, then, while he was gone, strangled the children with exercise bands.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Vanessa graduated from Florida International University, completed medical school, and entered a three-year emergency-medicine residency program at a South Florida hospital.
    — Tania Francois, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of medicine
Noun
  • Give it a refresh using anything from a DIY baking soda remedy to fabric fresheners to just airing it out.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Depending on the package, that mix can also include anti-nausea drugs, pain medication or heartburn remedies.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of remedy
Noun
  • Later school starts aren’t a cure for adolescent mental-health problems.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
  • While treatments can be helpful, Cleveland Clinic notes that there is currently no cure for lipedema.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of cure

Browse Nearby Words

pharisaical
pharmaceutical
pharmaceuticals
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Cite this Entry

“Pharmaceutical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pharmaceutical. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pharmaceutical

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pharmaceutical

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