surgical
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for surgical, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to or used in surgery.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use surgical
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “surgical” mean?
The word “surgical” means relating to or used in surgery. In plain terms, relating to operations on the body, or, more broadly, extremely precise.
How do you pronounce “surgical”?
“Surgical” is pronounced SURD-zhih-kuhl (/ˈsɝd͡ʒɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “surgical” in a sentence?
Here is “surgical” used in a sentence: “The nurse laid out the surgical instruments.”
What part of speech is “surgical”?
“Surgical” is an adjective.
Is “surgical” a common word?
“Surgical” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “surgical” have?
“Surgical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or used in surgery.
What is the difference between "surgical" and "medical"?
"Medical" relates broadly to medicine and the treatment of illness, while "surgical" relates specifically to surgery — treating the body by operating on it. Hospitals often use the words as a contrasting pair: medical management means drugs and other non-operative care, while surgical management means an operation.
What is a "surgical strike"?
A "surgical strike" is a military attack intended to be extremely precise and controlled — hitting one specific target while causing as little harm as possible around it. The phrase borrows the surgeon's image of exactness and is also used figuratively for any narrowly targeted action.