What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
therapeutic
Example
The therapist recommended a therapeutic massage to help with my back pain. [therapeutic: adjective]
Example
Yoga can be a therapeutic practice for reducing stress and anxiety. [therapeutic: adjective]
curative
Example
The antibiotic prescribed by the doctor was curative and helped to completely eliminate the infection. [curative: adjective]
Example
Surgery is often a curative measure for certain types of cancer. [curative: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Therapeutic is more commonly used than curative in everyday language. Therapeutic is a broader term that covers a wider range of treatments and therapies, while curative is more specific and is typically used in the context of treating a particular disease or condition.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between therapeutic and curative?
Both therapeutic and curative can be used in formal and informal contexts, but curative may be more commonly used in medical or scientific settings due to its specificity and technical nature.