Master confusing words with ease
Chronic vs. Acute
Chronic
/ˈkrɒnɪk/Examples:
'It was a chronic condition with Ralph Paton,' he said dryly.Chronic stress can lead to significant health issues.Her chronic lateness led to problems at work.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonymsAcute
/əˈkjuːt/Examples:
How very acute you are, Mortimer, in finding my weak place!Persecution mania very acute.He had acute insight into the team's dynamics.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Chronic refers to a condition that persists over a long period.
- Acute describes a condition that is severe and sudden in onset.
- Remember chronic as chronic ache which implies long-term discomfort.
- Think of acute angle in math, which is small and precise, just like the brief nature of an acute condition.
- Chronic can progress slowly, while acute conditions demand immediate attention.
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