curative
3 antonyms and opposites of curative, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Able to cure a disease or heal an injury, rather than merely relieve its symptoms.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Able to cure a disease or heal an injury, rather than merely relieve its symptoms.
“Surgery is still the only curative treatment for early-stage disease.”
Opposites
2. noun
A medicine or treatment that cures something.
“Sunlight was once prescribed as a curative for almost anything.”
3. adjective
Having a generally restorative or corrective effect on something troubled.
“A fortnight by the sea had a curative effect on his mood.”
Antonyms
How to use curative
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral to formal. Standard in medical writing; the noun sense sounds old-fashioned in general use.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin curativus, from Latin curare 'to care for, to attend to, to heal', from cura 'care'.
Full origin of curative →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between curative and palliative?
Curative treatment aims to eliminate the disease itself, while palliative treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve comfort without expecting to cure. A patient may move from curative to palliative care when the disease no longer responds to treatment.
What is the difference between curative and preventive?
Preventive measures stop an illness from occurring in the first place, such as a vaccine, whereas curative measures act on an illness that is already present. Public health typically distinguishes preventive, curative and rehabilitative services.
Can a treatment be curative and therapeutic at the same time?
Yes. Therapeutic is the broader word covering anything intended to treat, including symptom relief, while curative specifically claims the disease will be eliminated. Every curative treatment is therapeutic, but not the reverse.