palliative
Relieving without curing
Palliative means relieving symptoms without addressing the underlying cause.
Palliative care focuses on comfort rather than cure, especially for terminal patients.
The word often carries a dismissive edge when applied to policies or solutions: The tax cut was merely palliative—it didn't fix the structural problems.
A palliative is something that palliates.
Pain-relieving medication
- painkillerMedication reducing discomfort
- morphineOpioid analgesic medication
- opioidMorphine-class analgesic
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
sedative · aspirin · ibuprofen · acetaminophen · hydrocodone · codeine · tramadol · naproxen
Nearing death phase
- terminalAt the endpoint
- dignityInnate personal worth
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- comfort careSymptom relief, not cure
bereavement · respite · holistic · spirituality · counseling · grief · peaceful · supportive
Lack of strain
- sootheGently ease discomfort
- relieveLessen pain or burden
- lessenReduce in degree
- reduceMake smaller in degree
mitigate · diminish · assuage · temper · soften · moderate · abate · attenuate
Reducing distress or discomfort
- calmingInducing a settled state
- gentleSoft and kind
- restfulPeaceful and calming
- peacefulFree from disturbance
tranquil · therapeutic · relaxing · quieting · warmth · reassurance · supportive · nurturing
Temporary substitute measure
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- symptomaticShowing signs of disease
- short-termOf limited duration
transitory · makeshift · incomplete · limited · partial · superficial · band-aid
analgesic
Pain-relieving medication
- painkillerMedication reducing discomfort
- morphineOpioid analgesic medication
- opioidMorphine-class analgesic
fentanyl · sedative · aspirin · ibuprofen · acetaminophen · hydrocodone · codeine · tramadol · naproxen · buprenorphine
end-of-life
Nearing death phase
- terminalAt the endpoint
- dignityInnate personal worth
- compassionConcern for others' distress
comfort care · bereavement · respite · holistic · spirituality · counseling · grief · peaceful · supportive · quality of life
ease
Lack of strain
reduce · mitigate · diminish · assuage · temper · soften · moderate · abate · attenuate · quell
soothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
peaceful · tranquil · therapeutic · relaxing · quieting · warmth · reassurance · supportive · nurturing · tender
stopgap
Temporary substitute measure
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
- symptomaticShowing signs of disease
short-term · transitory · makeshift · incomplete · limited · partial · superficial · band-aid
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- medical caresurgery, examination, injection, prescription, medication
- nursingnurse, nursing, nurses, RN, LPN
- oncologycancer, tumor, carcinoma, metastasis, malignancy
- Drug Traitsaddictive, potent, toxic, sedative, narcotic
- medical adjectivessurgical, cardiac, orthopedic, malignant, respiratory
palliativeaggravating
Causing irritation or worsening
exacerbating · intensifying · irritating · worsening · inflaming
palliativecurative
Promoting recovery from illness
restorative · remedial · disease-modifying · eradicative · healing
- palliative careRelief-focused medicine for illness
- palliative care doctorDoctor easing serious illness suffering
- palliative care specialistDoctor managing terminal comfort