antipyretic

/ˌæntipaɪˈrɛtɪk/

Other forms: antipyretics

Anything described as antipyretic works against a fever. When someone is seriously ill, antipyretic medicine could save his life.

Antipyretic medicines are effective against fever. Aspirin is antipyretic. With a small fever, you might not need anything antipyretic, but if you fever rises much above 100, it can be very dangerous. Besides antipyretic medicine, there are antipyretic measures you can take such as holding a cold, wet rag to a patient's forehead. Since the Greek prefix anti- means "against" and pyr means "fire," it only makes sense that anything antipyretic works against the fire of a fever.

Definitions of antipyretic

1. adjective

   preventing or alleviating fever
   antonyms:

   pyretic

   causing fever
2. noun

   any medicine that lowers body temperature to prevent or alleviate fever
   synonyms: febrifuge

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease