panacea
noun
A solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases; a universal cure. Often used skeptically to describe something wrongly believed to solve all problems.
Etymology
From Greek "panakeia" (cure-all), from "pan" (all) + "akos" (cure). In Greek mythology, Panacea was the goddess of universal remedy, daughter of Asclepius.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"Politicians often promise panaceas for complex social problems that have no simple solutions."
- 2.
"Exercise is beneficial, but it's not a panacea for all health issues."
- 3.
"The new software was promoted as a panacea for the company's efficiency problems."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Medieval alchemists spent centuries searching for the "panacea," often equating it with the Philosopher's Stone. This quest influenced early chemistry and pharmacology, even as the dream of a universal cure remained elusive.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 7 letters (P, A, N, A, C, E, A)
Scrabble Value: 11 points
Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.
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