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

Truly living up to its name, this elasticity-boosting blend includes five different forms of peptide chains to deliver line-smoothing results at different levels of the skin—along with anti-inflammatory copper peptides, which double as an environmental aggressor-reducing antioxidant. —Sarah Han, Allure, 27 Sep. 2024

Over-the-counter medications Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation in people with mild PsA. Some NSAIDS are available without a prescription and may be prescribed to help with pain and inflammation. —Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 26 Sep. 2024

This includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and Advil (ibuprofen).3 If your platelet count becomes dangerously low, your provider may recommend a platelet transfusion to replace healthy platelets in your blood.6 Normal bruises usually heal after 1-2 weeks. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 26 Sep. 2024

Months of physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs didn't help. —Lauren Sausser, CBS News, 25 Sep. 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