symptomatic

adjective

symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
symptomatic treatment
a symptomatic patient
3
: characteristic, indicative
his behavior was symptomatic of his character
symptomatically adverb

Examples of symptomatic in a Sentence

a fever's refusal to respond to antibiotics is symptomatic of a viral infection
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This haphazard nihilism is symptomatic of Musk’s approach with the de-facto Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): destroy first, ask questions later. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025 The False Promises of AI The push for this copyright exception is symptomatic of a broader trend: the overhyping of generative AI. Virginie Berger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Their 4-2 FA Youth Cup defeat at Vicarage Road last week was symptomatic of first-team problems. Liam Tharme, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025 Veronica Jones, the first Black president of the Altadena Historical Society, said these issues are symptomatic of the underinvestment west of Lake Avenue. Jireh Deng, NPR, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for symptomatic

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of symptomatic was in 1698

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Symptomatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symptomatic. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

symptomatic

adjective
symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom (as of disease)
an itchy skin rash is symptomatic of poison ivy
b
: concerned with, affecting, or having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
2
: showing a quality or identity : characteristic
symptomatically adverb

Medical Definition

symptomatic

adjective
symp·​tom·​at·​ic ˌsim(p)-tə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce symptomatic (audio)
1
a
: being a symptom of a disease
gummas symptomatic of syphilis
b
: having the characteristics of a particular disease but arising from another cause
symptomatic epilepsy resulting from brain damage
2
: concerned with or affecting symptoms
symptomatic treatment
3
: having symptoms
a symptomatic patient
symptomatically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on symptomatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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