ENGLISH
REFERENCE

antidote

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈænɪˌdoʊt// UK //ˈæntɪdˌəʊt// an·ti·dote

n. a medicine that stops a poison from hurting you. It can also mean something that fixes a bad situation or feeling.

n. a substance that counteracts a specific poison; figuratively, anything that relieves or prevents a harmful effect.


SIMPLE

The doctor gave him an antidote for the snake bite.

CONTEXTUAL

Regular exercise proved to be the perfect antidote to the stress of her demanding corporate job.

COMPLEX

While the immediate priority was administering a chemical antidote to the patient, the long-term recovery plan focused on psychological support to address the trauma of the accidental poisoning.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin antidotum, from Ancient Greek ἀντίδοτος (antídotos, “antidote, remedy”), from ἀντιδίδωμι (antidídōmi, “I give in return, repay”), from ἀντί (antí, “against”) + δίδωμι (dídōmi, “I give”). Compare French antidote.

Usage

Often paired with the preposition 'to' when used in a figurative sense.

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