Definition

A man-made hormone that helps reduce inflammation and is used to treat various medical conditions.

Example

The doctor prescribed dexamethasone to help manage the patient's severe allergic reaction.

Conversation

I heard that dexamethasone is really effective for treating inflammation.

Yeah, I've read that too, especially for respiratory issues.

It's amazing how one medication can help with so many problems.

Absolutely! It’s definitely a game changer in medicine.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Dexamethasone** → It is formed from "dexa-" (derived from the Greek "deka", meaning ten) and "methasone" (from the root "meth-" meaning to change and the suffix "-asone" indicating a steroid). The word refers to a synthetic steroid that is a derivative of a specific structure, indicating its potency and modification from a base steroid structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ten' ('dexa-') indicating a strong modification in the steroid structure ('methasone') — this helps you remember that dexamethasone is a powerful synthetic steroid.

Visually Confused Words