Definition

Having difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath.

Example

The patient appeared dyspneic after climbing the stairs.

Conversation

I heard that Sarah was feeling pretty dyspneic after her workout yesterday.

Oh no, that doesn't sound good! Was it too intense for her?

Yeah, I think she might need to take it easier for a while.

Definitely, especially if she's been feeling dyspneic during exercises.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dyspneic is formed from "dys-" (meaning difficult or bad) and "pnoia" (from Greek "pnoia", meaning breath). The word describes a condition characterized by difficulty in breathing.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dys-' meaning difficult and 'pnoia' relating to breath — dyspneic refers to having difficulty breathing.

Visually Confused Words