anti-inflammatory

adjective

an·​ti-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry ˌan-tē-in-ˈfla-mə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˌan-tī-

variants or less commonly anti-inflammation

ˌan-tē-ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən,

ˌan-tī- 

: counteracting inflammation : used to prevent or reduce inflammation

anti-inflammatory painkillers

anti-inflammatory effects

an anti-inflammation diet

anti-inflammatory noun

plural anti-inflammatories

Examples of anti-inflammatory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reduce inflammation and swelling Cold water exposure may spike concentrations of stress hormones in our system, which is known to increase the levels of anti-inflammatory biomarkers in our systems. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2024

Evidence suggests that resveratrol may decrease inflammation and pain similarly to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen.2 How To Take Resveratrol Resveratrol can be found naturally in red wine, red grape skins, purple grape juice, berries, and peanuts. —Barbie Cervoni, Health, 23 Nov. 2024

Turmeric Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. —Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2024

The hero ingredient is heartleaf extract, which studies have shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties perfect for soothing, calming, and toning down redness. —Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anti-inflammatory

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti-in·​flam·​ma·​to·​ry -in-ˈflam-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- 

variants also anti-inflammation

-ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən 

: reducing or counteracting inflammation

Ibuprofen was the anti-inflammatory drug most commonly used, but others, including naprosyn, also were taken.

—Laurie McGinley, The Wall Street Journal

Most anti-inflammatory drugs target the arachidonic acid cascade, which produces two major mediators of inflammatory responses, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Nonsteroidal drugs can dam only one side of the cascade—they block production of prostaglandins but leave the leukotrienes unaffected. Steroidal drugs block both routes, but their side effects can make them an undesirable, though sometimes irreplaceable, treatment.

—L. Davis, Science News

A recent boon to the eczema-prone is a growing array of over-the-counter cortisone anti-inflammation applications.

—Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

anti-inflammatory

2 of 2 noun

plural anti-inflammatories

: an anti-inflammatory agent : a drug (as aspirin or ibuprofen) that reduces inflammation

Without anti-inflammatories, gouty attacks subside on their own—but may require several painful weeks, as opposed to the day or two required with anti-inflammatories.

—Harvard Medical School Health Letter