chronic

/ˈkɹɒnɪk/adjective

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

Example sentence

“The region has struggled with chronic water shortages for decades.”

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

Related words

acuteVery strong, keen, or sharp in effect or perception.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.benignGentle and mild; causing no harm.bacteriaA particular kind, species, or strain of these tiny single-celled organisms.