Chronic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈkrä-nik/ chron·ic

Meaning & Definition of Chronic

Chronic (adjective)

  1. continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
  2. being, providing, or requiring long-term medical care (as for a chronic disease)
  3. always present or encountered; especially, constantly vexing, weakening, or troubling

Chronic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being such by habit and not likely to change

    "a chronic smoker who has quit—many, many times"

    similar: bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, habitual, inveterate
    related: incorrigible, unreconstructed, unregenerate, born, natural, persistent, regular, repeat, serial, steady, unchanging, unfailing, addicted, accustomed, habituated, used, wonted, deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched, inbred, inherent, innate, intrinsic, apt, inclined, prone, mulish, obstinate, set, stubborn
    near: unaccustomed, unused, intermittent, occasional

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Chronic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Chronic:

bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, habitual, inveterate

Related Words for Chronic

incorrigible, unreconstructed, unregenerate, born, natural, persistent, regular, repeat, serial, steady, unchanging, unfailing, addicted, accustomed, habituated, used, wonted, deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched, inbred, inherent, innate, intrinsic, apt, inclined, prone, mulish, obstinate, set

Near Antonyms of Chronic

unaccustomed, unused, intermittent, occasional

Word Forms of Chronic

Derived words: chronic (noun), chronically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Chronic

borrowed from French chronique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin chronicus, going back to Latin, "written in the form of annals," borrowed from Greek chronikós "of time, temporal, in order by time," from chrónos "time" + -ikos -ic:1 chrono-

First known use: 1601

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Chronic

Words & Phrases Containing Chronic

chronic disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, chronic venous insufficiency, chronic wasting disease

Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic

What does "Chronic" mean?

"Chronic" means continuing or occurring again and again for a long time. As an adjective, it is defined as: continuing or occurring again and again for a long time.

What is another word for "Chronic"?

Other words for "Chronic" include bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, habitual and inveterate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Chronic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Chronic"?

There are 36 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Chronic". Common alternatives include bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, habitual and inveterate.

How do you use "Chronic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Chronic" in a sentence: "a chronic smoker who has quit—many, many times".

Is "Chronic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Chronic" is an adjective.

Is "Chronic" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Chronic" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Chronic"?

"Chronic" is pronounced /ˈkrä-nik/ and divided into syllables as chron·ic.

What is the origin of the word "Chronic"?

"Chronic" comes from borrowed from French chronique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin chronicus, going back to Latin, "written in the form of annals," borrowed from Greek chronikós "of time, temporal, in order by time," from chrónos "time" + -ikos -ic:1 chrono-. First known use: 1601.