Meaning & use
herpes
A common viral infection that causes painful blisters or sores on the skin, mouth, or genitals.
See it in a sentence
The doctor explained that herpes can be managed with antiviral medication, though not cured.
Cold sores around the mouth are one common symptom of the herpes virus.
A note on using this word
Herpes refers to a family of viruses, most commonly discussed as either oral herpes, causing cold sores, or genital herpes.
Words with a similar meaning
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