antidote

/ˌæntəˈdoʊt/

/ˈæntɪdəʊt/

Other forms: antidotes

An antidote is a remedy that relieves. So if you get headaches from long bus rides, it's best to travel equipped with the key pain alleviating antidotes: Tylenol, lots of water and soothing music.

A noun that comes all the way to us from the ancient Greek word antidoton, which means “given as a remedy,” an antidote counteracts or relieves the negative effects of something. You can find antidotes to poison, anxiety, sadness or even a bad day. People tend to think of medicinal cures when they hear the word antidote, but things like meditation, sleep, green tea, exercise or a good hug can all have positive, antidotal affects.

Definitions of antidote

1. noun

   a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison
   synonyms: counterpoison

   types:

   atropine

   a poisonous crystalline alkaloid extracted from the nightshade family; used as an antispasmodic and to dilate the eye pupil; also administered in large amounts as an antidote for organophosphate nerve agents or organophosphate insecticides

   obidoxime chloride

   a chloride used as an antidote for nerve gases such as sarin or VX

   belladonna

   an alkaloidal extract or tincture of the poisonous belladonna plant that is used medicinally

   type of:

   curative, cure, remedy, therapeutic

   a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain