chronic
Describes a condition, habit, or situation that persists for a long time or recurs frequently. It is most commonly used in medical contexts for long-term illnesses or to describe deep-seated social and economic problems.
Exemples
3 sur 5My grandfather has suffered from chronic back pain for over twenty years.
My grandfather has suffered from long-lasting back pain for over twenty years.
The region is currently facing a chronic shortage of clean drinking water.
The region is currently facing a long-term shortage of clean drinking water.
The traffic in this city is absolutely chronic during the morning rush hour.
The traffic in this city is extremely bad during the morning rush hour.
Synonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
The prefix 'chron-' comes from the Greek word for time (like a chronometer or watch). Therefore, a chronic problem is a 'time' problem—it lasts for a long time.
Quiz rapide
The hospital specializes in treating patients with _______ respiratory diseases that require long-term care.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : chronic
Exemples
My grandfather has suffered from chronic back pain for over twenty years.
everydayMy grandfather has suffered from long-lasting back pain for over twenty years.
The region is currently facing a chronic shortage of clean drinking water.
formalThe region is currently facing a long-term shortage of clean drinking water.
The traffic in this city is absolutely chronic during the morning rush hour.
informalThe traffic in this city is extremely bad during the morning rush hour.
Academic research suggests that chronic stress can lead to permanent changes in brain structure.
academicAcademic research suggests that long-term stress can lead to permanent changes in brain structure.
The company failed due to chronic underinvestment in new technology.
businessThe company failed due to persistent underinvestment in new technology.
Synonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
chronic fatigue syndrome
a medical condition causing extreme tiredness over a long period
chronic condition
a health state that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects
chronic stage
the final or long-term phase of a developing situation or disease
Souvent confondu avec
Acute describes a condition that is sudden and severe but short-lived, while chronic describes something that lasts a long time.
Severe refers to the intensity of pain or a problem, whereas chronic refers specifically to its duration.
Notes d'usage
While primarily a medical term, it is widely used for any negative situation that seems impossible to stop, such as 'chronic lateness' or 'chronic debt'.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often use 'chronic' to mean 'very painful' (severe). Remember that a chronic pain might be mild, but it is 'chronic' because it never goes away.
Astuce mémo
The prefix 'chron-' comes from the Greek word for time (like a chronometer or watch). Therefore, a chronic problem is a 'time' problem—it lasts for a long time.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Greek 'khronikos', meaning 'of time', relating to 'khronos' (time).
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
In British English slang, 'chronic' is sometimes used informally to mean 'appalling' or 'of very poor quality'.
Quiz rapide
The hospital specializes in treating patients with _______ respiratory diseases that require long-term care.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : chronic
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
univolvacy
C1The characteristic or state of an organism, particularly an insect, having only one generation or brood per year. It describes a life cycle that is completed once within a twelve-month period, often dictated by seasonal changes.
postrogible
C1A postrogible is a formal administrative item, decision, or legal clause that is officially designated as subject to subsequent questioning or secondary verification. It acts as a placeholder in a process, allowing a project to move forward while acknowledging that a specific element requires future scrutiny.
overferfy
C1To excessively complicate, refine, or add unnecessary details to a task, object, or process, ultimately diminishing its original effectiveness or clarity. It describes the act of over-engineering something to the point of absurdity or inefficiency.
trisalvhood
C1Describing a state or system that possesses a triple-layered security or salvage protocol to prevent total loss. It characterizes an object, process, or entity that is thrice-protected against failure, ensuring maximum durability and resilience.
exmovize
C1A formal noun referring to the outward manifestation or physical externalization of internal energy, emotion, or kinetic impulses. It is specifically used to describe the transition from a latent state to a visible, active movement.
circumpetious
C1To seek a goal or target by taking an indirect, circular, or roundabout path rather than a direct one. It implies a strategic or cautious approach to reaching an objective by navigating around obstacles or avoiding direct confrontation.
undertactant
C1A term used in behavioral psychology and verbal behavior analysis to describe an individual who exhibits a deficit in 'tacting,' which is the ability to label or name stimuli in the environment. It refers to a speaker who provides significantly fewer verbal descriptions of non-verbal stimuli than expected for their developmental level.
hypercryptity
C1To encrypt or obscure information to an extreme, multi-layered degree, often exceeding standard security requirements. This verb describes the act of applying redundant cryptographic protections to ensure that data remains inaccessible even under intense scrutiny.
homosolship
C1A state or quality of being united by a single, shared purpose or essence within a group, particularly where individual differences are subsumed by a collective identity. It characterizes the bond formed through consistent, singular dedication to a common goal or philosophy.
subsumful
C1To completely integrate or incorporate a specific element, concept, or entity into a larger, more comprehensive framework or system. It describes the process of making something a full part of a bigger whole so that it becomes indistinguishable from the main structure.
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