cure-alls
Supposed miracle treatments
Cure-alls are remedies claimed to treat all ailments or solve all problems.
The term is almost always skeptical or dismissive—genuine medicine rarely promises universal effectiveness.
Snake oil was the classic cure-all.
The meaning extends beyond medicine: Tax cuts are not the cure-all their supporters claim.
Mythical healing draught
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- antidoteSubstance neutralizing harmful agents
- balmHealing topical preparation
- salveTopical healing preparation
potion · nostrum · liniment · restorative · medicine · treatment · therapy · prescription
Fraudulent cure-all
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- pseudoscienceBogus methodology posing as factual
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
sham · scam · huckster · mountebank · fraud · fake · bogus · deception
Amazement or curiosity
- marvelAstonishing thing or feeling
- magic bulletIdeal effortless remedy
- silver bulletPerfect single remedy
- breakthroughSudden important advance
transformation · miraculous · supernatural · divine intervention · revelation · alchemy · resurrection · phenomenon
elixir
Mythical healing draught
- tonicInvigorating medicinal drink
- antidoteSubstance neutralizing harmful agents
- balmHealing topical preparation
salve · potion · nostrum · liniment · restorative · medicine · treatment · therapy · prescription · infusion
snake oil
Fraudulent cure-all
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- quackeryFraudulent medical practice
- pseudoscienceBogus methodology posing as factual
hoax · sham · scam · huckster · mountebank · fraud · fake · bogus · deception · imposture
wonder
Amazement or curiosity
- marvelAstonishing thing or feeling
- magic bulletIdeal effortless remedy
- silver bulletPerfect single remedy
breakthrough · transformation · miraculous · supernatural · divine intervention · revelation · alchemy · resurrection · phenomenon · enchantment
- apothecarypharmacy, apothecary, drugstore, dispensary, pharmacist
- quackerysnake oil, patent medicine, patent medicines, quack remedy, nostrum
- herbal medicineherbal medicine, herbal remedies, herbal remedy, herbal tea, herbal teas