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Breaking Down Hypertrophy
When the prefix hyper-, "above, beyond", is joined to -trophy, we get the opposite of atrophy. An organ or part becomes hypertrophic when it grows so extremely that its function is affected. Muscle hypertrophy is common in men who do strength training, and is often harmless; but extreme muscle hypertrophy generally involves taking steroids, which can do great damage to the body. Hypertrophy of the heart sounds as if it might be healthy, but instead it's usually a bad sign. Hypertrophy, like atrophy, can be used in nonmedical ways as well to describe something with exaggerated growth or complexity.
Examples of hypertrophy in a Sentence
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2024
Per Deadline, Priem had cardiomegaly (an enlarged heart) with left ventricle hypertrophy.
—Keisha Hatchett, TVLine, 19 June 2024
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
Plus, of course, using weights as resistance helps to increase muscle activation and stabilization, leading to overload and hypertrophy.
—Jeff Tomko, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for hypertrophy 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypertrophy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hypertrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypertrophy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hypertrophy
1 of 2 noun
hypertrophy
2 of 2 intransitive verb
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