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panacea

3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for panacea, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A single remedy or solution supposed to fix every problem — usually said sceptically, of something that cannot really do so.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

cure-all silver bullet universal remedy

How to Use Panacea

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

no panacea not a panacea seen as a panacea

Usually appears in the negative — "no panacea" — to puncture an overclaim.

Etymology

From Greek "panakeia," a universal remedy, from "pan-" (all) plus "akos" (cure). Panacea was also the Greek goddess of healing.

Full origin of panacea →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does panacea mean?

A supposed cure for everything. In modern use it is nearly always negative — pointing out that something being sold as a complete solution is not one.

What is a synonym for panacea?

Cure-all, silver bullet or universal remedy. "Silver bullet" is the most common everyday equivalent.

Nearby Words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.