topical
Of immediate interest
Topical describes something relating to current events or matters of immediate interest: a topical debate, topical humor.
News and commentary are topical when they address what's happening now.
In medicine, topical means applied to a specific area of the body surface rather than taken internally: topical ointment, topical anesthetic.
The two senses share the idea of something localized—to a moment or a place.
Medicated skin cream
- salveTopical healing preparation
- creamRich milk fat
- lotionLiquid skin moisturizer
- gelWobbly semi-solid substance
balm · antiseptic · analgesic · anti-inflammatory · corticosteroid · tincture · liniment · emollient
Applying to the topic
- timelyOccurring when appropriate
- contemporaryOf the present age
- newsworthyMeriting press coverage
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
headlines · breaking · current · updates · events · buzz · viral · hashtags
Directly related to something
- applicableAble to be used
- germaneRelated to the topic
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
- relatedConnected by blood or nature
material · significant · meaningful · connected · suitable · fitting · proper · salient
Relating to an area
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- communityCollective of connected people
- areaExtent of surface
- districtBounded administrative area
localized · place-based · nearby · here · hometown · domestic · national · hyperlocal
Formal argument on issues
- polarizingCausing sharp division
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- hot-buttonEmotionally charged, controversial
sensitive · provocative · inflammatory · disputed · arguable · charged · thorny · contested
ointment
Medicated skin cream
gel · balm · antiseptic · analgesic · anti-inflammatory · corticosteroid · tincture · liniment · emollient · hydrocortisone
relevant
Applying to the topic
- timelyOccurring when appropriate
- contemporaryOf the present age
- newsworthyMeriting press coverage
trending · headlines · breaking · current · updates · events · buzz · viral · hashtags · coverage
pertinent
Directly related to something
- applicableAble to be used
- germaneRelated to the topic
- appropriateSuited to circumstance
related · material · significant · meaningful · connected · suitable · fitting · proper · salient · corresponding
regional
Relating to an area
- neighborhoodResidential area nearby
- communityCollective of connected people
- areaExtent of surface
district · localized · place-based · nearby · here · hometown · domestic · national · hyperlocal
debate
Formal argument on issues
- polarizingCausing sharp division
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
hot-button · sensitive · provocative · inflammatory · disputed · arguable · charged · thorny · contested · polemical
- pharmacypharmacist, pharmacy, prescription, dispensing, prescriptions
- drug formstablet form, powder form, oral, injectable, transdermal
- pharmacologypharmacology, drugs, pharmacokinetics, dose, drug
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- Medicinespill, tablet, aspirin, tablets, penicillin
- relevancerelevance, relevant, pertinence, pertinent, germane
topicalgeneral
Widespread, not specialized
universal · broad · unrestricted · comprehensive · wide-ranging
topicalsystemic
Affecting an entire structure
oral · internal · intravenous · injectable · ingested
- off topicUnrelated to discussion
- hot topicWidely debated current subject
- on topicRelated to subject discussed
- topical steroidsSurface-applied anti-inflammatory medications
- trending topicsCurrently popular discussion subjects
- topical medicationExternal therapeutic application
topic, topics, subtopic, topicality, topically, subtopics, topicals