nostrum (Meaning)

Wordnet

nostrum (n)

hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists

patent medicine whose efficacy is questionable

Webster

nostrum (n.)

A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine.

Any scheme or device proposed by a quack.

nostrum Sentence Examples

  1. The ancient Romans believed in a magical potion called nostrum that could cure all diseases.
  2. Traveling medicine salesmen often peddled nostrums claiming they could heal anything from headaches to the plague.
  3. Despite its dubious efficacy, nostrum remained popular for centuries as people desperately sought cures for their ailments.
  4. The term "nostrum" has come to be synonymous with a quack remedy or a deceptive product.
  5. Many nostrums contained harmful ingredients and were actually more dangerous than the diseases they were meant to treat.
  6. The rise of modern medicine gradually discredited nostrums, although they still exist today in the form of alternative health supplements.
  7. Nostrums often appeal to people's fears and desperation, promising miraculous cures that are often too good to be true.
  8. The internet has become a fertile ground for the spread of nostrums, as dubious products can easily be marketed and sold online.
  9. Consumers should be wary of any product that claims to offer a cure-all or that is marketed with exaggerated promises.
  10. While nostrums may provide temporary relief or a placebo effect, they are unlikely to address the underlying cause of any serious medical condition.

FAQs About the word nostrum

hypothetical remedy for all ills or diseases; once sought by the alchemists, patent medicine whose efficacy is questionableA medicine, the ingredients of which

panacea, theriac, cure-all, remedy, elixir, cure, silver bullet,catholicon, corrective,magic bullet

No antonyms found.

The ancient Romans believed in a magical potion called nostrum that could cure all diseases.

Traveling medicine salesmen often peddled nostrums claiming they could heal anything from headaches to the plague.

Despite its dubious efficacy, nostrum remained popular for centuries as people desperately sought cures for their ailments.

The term "nostrum" has come to be synonymous with a quack remedy or a deceptive product.