What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
untreatable
Example
Unfortunately, the patient's cancer is untreatable at this time. [untreatable: adjective]
Example
The virus has mutated and become untreatable with current medications. [untreatable: adjective]
terminal
Example
The patient was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only a few months to live. [terminal: adjective]
Example
The disease had progressed to a terminal stage, and there was nothing more the doctors could do. [terminal: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Terminal is more commonly used in medical contexts, particularly when discussing end-of-life care. Untreatable may be used more broadly in everyday language to describe medical conditions that cannot be cured or improved with current treatments.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between untreatable and terminal?
Both untreatable and terminal are formal words that are typically used in medical contexts. However, terminal may be considered more formal due to its association with end-of-life care and discussions about death and dying.
