Meaning & use

sclerotic

adjective·Academic

Last updated

Affected by an abnormal hardening of body tissue; or, figuratively, rigid and resistant to change.

See it in a sentence

The patient's sclerotic arteries increased his risk of heart disease.

Critics say the sclerotic bureaucracy blocks any meaningful reform.

A note on using this word

From Greek skleros (hard); the medical sense, as in atherosclerosis, gave rise to a common figurative use describing stiff institutions or systems.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sclerotic”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.