Synonym Chooser

How is the word chronic distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words confirmed and inveterate are common synonyms of chronic. While all three words mean "firmly established," chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome.

a chronic complainer

When can confirmed be used instead of chronic?

The words confirmed and chronic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform.

a confirmed bachelor

When could inveterate be used to replace chronic?

While the synonyms inveterate and chronic are close in meaning, inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable.

an inveterate smoker

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chronic But Amerie has to make peace with her chronic people-pleasing while Vincent copes with familial expectations and pressures. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024 None Race: Black Cause of death: Excited delirium due to acute and chronic cocaine abuse Manner of death: Accident Summary: Holmes had been using crack cocaine and began ripping off his clothes and punching the walls of his home. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024 Friends indicated that chronic pain limited the daily life of someone who was otherwise a very active person. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024 Luigi himself, however, suffered a back injury and resulting chronic pain in recent years. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chronic 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chronic
Adjective
  • Or has her persistent unhappiness caused serious health issues?
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Meanwhile, Huang might consider embroidering the Intel logo in the lining of his famous leather jackets as a persistent reminder of how the mighty can fall.
    Steven Levy, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But the most sinister aspect of the movie, to me, is how banal its serial rapists are—how corny and ineffectual, these cringeworthy failsons.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Richard Ramirez, one of the most prolific and violent serial killers in American history—has attracted more than his fair share of fangirls.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Orr is a habitual offender whose criminal history goes back 30 years.
    Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 3 Dec. 2024
  • While a routine is habitual, rituals are experiences that take place with intention and can be transformative.
    Jann E. Freed, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Even diplomats of Iran and North Korea, two of America’s most inveterate foes, can reside in New York city as a result of this unique host status of our country.
    Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Second Gentleman Dough Emhoff has established a reputation as a music nerd and, like his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, an inveterate crate digger.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Though the film, which critics in New York watched in IMAX 3D, isn’t completely saved by Jenkins and his team of regular co-conspirators (including producer Adele Romanski, DP James Laxton and editor Joi McMillon), it’s certainly made better by their efforts.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Dec. 2024
  • The two teams split in the regular season last year, but Conard beat Glastonbury in the CCC quarterfinals.
    Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Markets are overwhelmingly expecting the Bank of England to hold rates steady at its upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting on Thursday, overnight index swap data shows.
    Karen Gilchrist,Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Investors will be listening closely for hints that the Fed is leaning toward holding rates steady in the coming months.
    Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The Fed’s preferred inflation measure — the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — is due Friday and could similarly show stubborn price pressures.
    Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
  • While the overall economic picture is starting to look better, stubborn inflation and the prospect of new tariffs when President-elect Donald Trump takes office seem to give mid-market leaders pause.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • There are nicotine substitutes for the truly addicted, which help users inhale fewer damaging byproducts.
    Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Multiple studies have reported that adolescents with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to Facebook or Twitter.
    Alison Escalante, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near chronic

Cite this Entry

“Chronic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chronic. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on chronic

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