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
Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 1 Aug. 2024
Another one of my group members did palliative care, and I had not really been exposed to palliative care or hospice before that.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
This shift to at-home care should benefit UnitedHealth Group, which owns primary, hospice, palliative, and at-home care providers and enablers including Optum, LHC Group, Landmark, Summit Home Care, and NaviHealth.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for palliative 
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.
Adjective
The years-in-the-making clinic with its roots stretching to 1980s Austin is designed to close the gaps in access to specialty care, including cardiology, nephrology, pulmonology, palliative care, behavioral health, assessments before surgery and nutrition.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 1 Aug. 2024
Another one of my group members did palliative care, and I had not really been exposed to palliative care or hospice before that.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
Paper palliatives will not address the world’s present emergencies.
—Philip Zelikow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
This shift to at-home care should benefit UnitedHealth Group, which owns primary, hospice, palliative, and at-home care providers and enablers including Optum, LHC Group, Landmark, Summit Home Care, and NaviHealth.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for palliative
Articles Related to palliative
Dictionary Entries Near palliative
Cite this Entry
“Palliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palliative. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share