chronic

/ˈkɹɒnɪk/adjective

Lasting for a long time or coming back again and again, used of problems or illnesses.

Example sentences

“The region has struggled with chronic water shortages for decades.”
“She has suffered from chronic back pain since the accident.”

Refers to duration, not severity: a chronic illness is long-lasting, not necessarily grave. Its opposite is 'acute', sudden and short.

Synonyms for chronic

persistent
long-term
recurring
ongoing

Antonyms

acute
temporary

Related words

perennialContinuing or staying active through the whole year, or without ever stopping.diseaseA condition that makes a person, animal, or plant unwell or stops it working properly, unlike an injury, which usually happens in an instant.terminalThe building at an airport where travelers move between ground transport and their flights.germA tiny living thing, such as a bacterium or virus, that can cause illness.benignNot cancerous; describing a growth or condition that will not spread or threaten your health.bacteriaVery small living things, each made of a single cell, found almost everywhere; some cause disease and others are helpful.