7 syllables: An, ti, in, flam, ma, to, ry. Stress on flam.
in-FLAM-uh-taw-ree
/ɪnˈflæməˌtɔɹi/
Antiinflammatory is pronounced in-FLAM-uh-taw-ree (/ɪnˈflæməˌtɔɹi/). It has seven syllables (An-ti-in-flam-ma-to-ry), with the stress on "flam". Antiinflammatory is an adjective describing something that counteracts inflammation. It often refers to medications or responses that reduce swelling, redness, and pain. The term combines anti- with inflammatory, indicating opposing inflammation. Typically used in medical contexts and professional writing.
adjectiveAntiinflammatory is an adjective describing something that counteracts inflammation. It often refers to medications or responses that reduce swelling, redness, and pain. The term combines anti- with inflammatory, indicating opposing inflammation. Typically used in medical contexts and professional writing.
- Do not rush: break into syllables and keep the second syllable /taɪ.ɪn/ as a unit; rushing the -inflammatory- part collapses the rhythm. - Misplace primary stress on anti- or -flammatory; ensure the main emphasis is on the -matory- portion, with secondary emphasis on the anti- prefix. - Failure to distinguish /flə/ vs /fla/ after /n/; keep the schwa sound before the /m/ and avoid mispronouncing as /ˈflæmətɔri/; check lip rounding and jaw openness.
"The doctor prescribed an antiinflammatory medication to ease the patient’s joint pain."
"Researchers studied an antiinflammatory diet to lower systemic inflammation."
"Over-the-counter antiinflammatory drugs can help with mild arthritis symptoms."
Say it as ˌæn.taɪ.ɪnˌflæ.məˈtɔːr.i (US) or ˌæn.taɪ.ɪn.fləˈmeɪ.tər.i (UK). Primary stress lands on the -matory- portion's third syllable, with secondary stress on the anti- prefix. Start with /æ/ in ‘ant’, glide into /taɪ/ or /taɪ.ɪn/ depending on tempo, then transition to /flə-/ or /fləˈ/ followed by /ˈmæ/ or /meɪ/ and finally /tɔr.i/. Use crisp yet relaxed lip positions for the /ɪ/ vs /ɪə/ differences. Audio reference: you can hear this on Pronounce or Forvo entries for related medical terms.
Common errors: misplacing stress (treating as a flat word rather than a multi-syllabic term), and slurring the third syllable into /æntɪnflæˈmæt/ without the proper schwa in -mə- and the -tɔːr- sequence. Correct by giving the middle syllable a light schwa /ə/ or reduced vowel and emphasizing the -mator- portion with /ˈmeɪ/ or /ˈmæ/ depending on accent. Practice with slow, deliberate syllable isolation before speed.
In US, primary stress often lands on the -matory(-) portion, with rhotic /r/ pronounced; /fləˈmætɔri/ endings are prominent. UK tends to reduce the -to- syllable a bit more and may have non-rhotic /r/ in formal speech, with /ˌænt.aɪ.ɪnˈflæ.məˌtɔː.ri/. Australian tends toward a flatter intonation in medical speech, with a slight fronting of /æ/ in first syllables and clear /tɔː/ or /tɔr/ depending on speaker. Use IPA references to anchor regional expectations.
The difficulty comes from the multisyllabic structure, three distinct vowel clusters, and the 'anti-' prefix optional stress interplay with - inflammatory. The shift from /ɪn/ to /flə/ can be jarring, and the long -atory ending requires precise /ɔːr.i/ or /ɔr.i/. For many, the sequence /ɪn.fləˈmeɪ.tɔːr.i/ or /ɪnˈflæ.məˌtɔːr.i/ challenges consistent stress. Practicing with slow, segmented drills helps stabilize the rhythm and phoneme production.
A good unique query is: Does the pronunciation shift when used as part of a compound like in NSAID contexts? Answer: In many contexts, the compound retains consistent stress patterns regardless of nearby words, but fast clinical speech may fuse syllables slightly; maintain the primary cadence on -matory- and keep the preceding anti- prefix fairly light unless emphasized for clarity.
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US vs UK vs AU: US rhotics are present; UK non-rhotic, with lighter r at the end; AU varies but tends to rhotic-like but with less pronounced r at syllable ends. Pay attention to /ɪn/ vs /ɪən/ clusters; US often reduces to /ɪn/; UK may produce /ɪnfləˈmeɪtəri/ with less vowel rounding. Use IPA references to anchor accuracy.
Antiinflammatory originates from the prefix anti- (meaning against) combined with inflammatory, which derives from Latin inflammare (to set on fire, inflame). Inflammation itself comes from Latin inflammare, via Old French inflamación, with -ative forming adjectives in English to indicate a tendency or property. The first element anti- entered English from Latin anti- in the 15th century, and inflammatory appeared in English in the 17th century, built on Latin inflammatorius and the later -ive adjective form. The modern scientific use to describe agents that counteract inflammation became common in the 19th and 20th centuries, paralleling advances in pharmacology and physiology. Over time, the spelling consolidated into antiinflammatory (without a space or hyphen) in medical literature and everyday usage, though some compounds retain hyphenation in less formal contexts. First known uses appear in medical texts discussing anti-inflammatory substances in the 1800s, with standardized usage expanding as pharmacology terminology grew. The compound is now a standard term across clinical, pharmacological, and consumer health writing.
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Words that rhyme with "Antiinflammatory"
-ive sounds
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