therapeutically

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a way that heals, treats or relieves illness or distress.

   Grammar: Modifies a verb or adjective: therapeutically useful.

   Patterns

   • therapeutically effective
   • used therapeutically

   The drug is used therapeutically to lower blood pressure.

   Gardening can be therapeutically calming for anxious people.

   The herb was therapeutically tested in two clinical trials.

2. 2adverbnot comparablemedical

   From the point of view of treatment or medical benefit.

   Grammar: Often placed before an adjective or at the start of a sentence.

   Patterns

   • therapeutically speaking

   Therapeutically, the new approach offers little over older drugs.

   The two medicines are therapeutically equivalent.

   Therapeutically speaking, rest was her best option.

Common combinations

therapeutically useful

The compound may be therapeutically useful.

therapeutically beneficial

Music is therapeutically beneficial for many patients.

therapeutically equivalent

The generic is therapeutically equivalent to the original.

used therapeutically

Cold water is sometimes used therapeutically.

Synonyms and how they differ

medicinally

Medicinally is narrower and refers to treatment with substances.

curatively

Curatively implies actually curing, while therapeutically also covers relief and comfort.

healingly

Healingly is rare and poetic, unlike the professional tone of therapeutically.

Opposites

Word family

therapy noun

treatment of illness

therapeutic adjective

relating to healing

therapist noun

a person who gives therapy

therapeutics noun

the branch of medicine about treatment

Commonly confused: therapeutically or therapeutic?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “therapeutically”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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