pal·li·a·tive
ˈpa-lē-ˌā-tiv 
ˈpal-yə-
ˈpal-yə-
: serving to palliate
palliative surgery
palliative care
palliative drugs
palliatively
adverb
Examples of palliative in a Sentence
Noun
The disease has no cure, but a number of palliatives exist.
Travel is like a palliative against depression for him.
symbolic palliatives for inner-city troubles
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Sanders, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
As of June 2025, the reward for information leading to Falconio's remains was doubled to 500,000 Australian dollars (about $330,000) after news emerged that Murdoch was in palliative care.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would qualify patients for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the current state medical cannabis program is known.
—A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for palliative
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Adjective
With unique challenges in treating aging populations, SilverStone's integrated model—which includes home health, palliative care and hospice—uses AI to help ensure a smooth transition between different levels of care.
—Jennifer Sanders, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
As of June 2025, the reward for information leading to Falconio's remains was doubled to 500,000 Australian dollars (about $330,000) after news emerged that Murdoch was in palliative care.
—Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Noun
End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would also qualify for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the state’s medical cannabis program is known.
—A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
End-of-life patients in palliative or hospice care would qualify patients for the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), as the current state medical cannabis program is known.
—A.j. Herrington, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for palliative
Cite this Entry
“Palliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palliative. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
palliative
1 of 2 adjective
pal·li·a·tive
ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv
ˈpal-yət-
ˈpal-yət-
: serving to palliate
palliative
2 of 2 noun
: something that palliates
Medical Definition
palliative
1 of 2 adjective
pal·lia·tive
ˈpal-ē-ˌāt-iv
ˈpal-yət-
ˈpal-yət-
: reducing the severity of a disease or condition without curing it : providing palliative care
palliative treatment
Although valve replacement is an important advance in the treatment of patients with valve disease, it is a palliative rather than a curative procedure.—Robert A. O'Rourke, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Robert A. O'Rourke, The Journal of the American Medical Association
palliatively
adverb
palliative
2 of 2 noun
: something that reduces the severity of a disease or condition without curing it
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