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chronic definition

chronic (krän′ik)

adjective

  1. lasting a long time or recurring often
  2. having had an ailment for a long time a chronic patient
  3. continuing indefinitely; perpetual; constant a chronic worry
  4. by habit, custom, etc.; habitual; inveterate a chronic complainer

Etymology: Fr cronique < L chronicus < Gr chronikos, of time < chronos, time

noun

a chronic patient

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical chronic definition - medical

chronic Synonyms

chronic

modif.

inveterate, confirmed, settled, habitual, hardened, rooted, deep-seated, continuing, persistent, persisting, stubborn, uncured, incurable, lasting, unyielding, tenacious, enduring, lingering, deep-rooted, abiding, perennial, perpetual, constant, fixed, continual, incessant, long-standing, recurring, continuous, of long duration, long-lived, unabating, protracted, ceaseless, sustained, lifelong, prolonged, recurrent, periodic, intermittent, continued, obstinate, incorrigible, unceasing, inborn, inbred, ingrained, ever-present; see also habitual 1, permanent 2.

Antonyms acute, temporary*, casual.

chronic suggests long duration or frequent recurrence and is used especially of diseases or habits that resist all efforts to eradicate them chronic sinusitis; inveterate implies firm establishment as a result of continued indulgence over a long period of time an inveterate liar; confirmed suggests fixedness in some condition or practice, often from a deep-seated aversion to change a confirmed bachelor; hardened implies fixed tendencies and a callous indifference to emotional or moral considerations a hardened criminal


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chronic Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • become: They may become chronic with serious loss of blood.

Modifies a noun

  • bronchitis: He died from the chronic bronchitis that his touch of gas in March 1918 had given him.

Modifying Another Word

  • especially: Skeletal pathology Numerous pathological conditions, especially chronic, long lasting disease, affect the human skeleton.

Noun used with modifier

  • term: More than 17 million people nationally suffer with long term chronic illness - and that means about 5,000 in Milton Keynes.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: If the condition becomes chronic the cervix becomes swollen and enlarged and may contain cysts that may also become infected.

Preposition: under

  • investment: And Colm Ryan definitely has the last word: Irish roads have suffered from years of chronic under investment.
chronic usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"chronic." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/chronic>

APA Style

chronic. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/chronic

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