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Synonyms

cure-all

American  
[kyoor-awl] / ˈkyʊərˌɔl /

noun

  1. a remedy for all diseases, ills, or difficulties; panacea.

cure-all British  

noun

  1. something reputed to cure all ailments

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cure-all

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A personal loan can be a powerful tool for consolidating high-interest debt, but it’s far from a cure-all.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

Officials seem to hope that AI and other high-tech will be an economic cure-all and a military advantage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

The Harvard study contained some indications that accreditation is not a cure-all for troubled jail health systems.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2025

Scottish Greens health spokeswoman Gillian Mackay said MUP should be "an important part" of the nation's health strategy but wider work was needed as it was not a "cure-all".

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2024

Since sea bathing was a sort of cure-all for delicate children and invalids, Charles and Emma decided to give that a try.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.