Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

the cure is worse than the disease

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.13 in modern English

Syllables
the cure is -worse than the dis-ease
IPA
43
Scrabble Score
28
Letters
3
Syllables
13
Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

The medical treatment for an illness produces a worse net result than the illness does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via adverse effects.

phrase

The solution or proposed solution to a problem produces a worse net result than the problem does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via unintended consequences.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Latin aegrescit medendo (literally “it worsens with healing”) attributed to Virgil in book XII of the Aeneid.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: aegrescit medendo

Questions

What does the cure is worse than the disease mean?
The medical treatment for an illness produces a worse net result than the illness does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via adverse effects.
Where does the cure is worse than the disease come from?
It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce the cure is worse than the disease

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  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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