symptomatic — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Showing symptoms.

   Antonyms

   asymptomaticnonsymptomatic

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   It is important to observe symptomatic cats out of the carrier, on the floor in a safe, escape-proof room. Swelling, heat, and pain in one or more joints can explain many signs, including lameness, malaise, and fever.

2. Constituting a symptom or indication; characteristic, indicative.

   Usage

   • broadly

   Examples

   The city's problems are symptomatic of the crisis that is spreading throughout the country.

   Symptomatic of a shallow understanding and an unamiable temper.

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   And it is symptomatic of the many paradoxes of Lederer's life that of all the people in the room, Brotherhood is the one whom he would most wish to serve, if ever he had the opportunity, even though — or perhaps because — his occasional efforts to ingratiate himself with his adopted hero have met with iron rebuff.

3. Of a treatment, that only affects the symptoms of a disease without targeting the underlying cause.

   Antonyms

   nonsymptomatic

4. Relating to symptomatics.

   Antonyms

   nonsymptomatic

Noun

1. A person exhibiting the symptoms of an illness.

   Antonyms

   asymptomatic

Adjective

1. characteristic or indicative of a disease

   Synonyms

   diagnostic

   Examples

   a diagnostic sign of yellow fever

   a rash symptomatic of scarlet fever

   More examples (2)

   symptomatic of insanity

   a rise in crime symptomatic of social breakdown

2. relating to or according to or affecting a symptom or symptoms

   Examples

   symptomatic relief

   symptomatic treatment

   More examples (1)

   a symptomatic classification of diseases