3 syllables: Scle, ro, tic. Stress on ro.
skluh-ROH-tik
/skləˈroʊtɪk/
Sclerotic is pronounced skluh-ROH-tik (/skləˈroʊtɪk/). It has three syllables (Scle-ro-tic), with the stress on "ro". Sclerotic is an adjective describing a hardened or stiffened tissue or organ, often used in medical contexts (e.g., sclerotic arteries) or figuratively to denote rigidity or inflexibility in systems or attitudes. It conveys a sense of abnormal hardening or sclerosis, typically relating to pathological change or characteristic rigidity. The term is formal and primarily encountered in scientific or clinical discussions.
adjectiveSclerotic is an adjective describing a hardened or stiffened tissue or organ, often used in medical contexts (e.g., sclerotic arteries) or figuratively to denote rigidity or inflexibility in systems or attitudes. It conveys a sense of abnormal hardening or sclerosis, typically relating to pathological change or characteristic rigidity. The term is formal and primarily encountered in scientific or clinical discussions.
"The patient showed sclerotic changes in the retinal vessels."
"A sclerotic pattern emerged in the economy, with sluggish growth and reduced innovation."
"Her sclerotic attitude toward reform made collaboration nearly impossible."
Pronounce it as /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable: SKLUR-uh-tik. Start with the “skl” cluster, then a mid-central vowel for “er” as in “fur,” and finish with “-ot-ick” where the “o” sounds like in “cot” and the final “-ic” is a light, unstressed schwa-like ending. Audio references: you can compare with online pronunciations on Forvo or YouGlish, and check Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for phonetic details.
Common errors: misplacing the stress on the second syllable, or confusing the vowel in the second syllable with a short “er” sound. Also, learners may harden the final -tic too much or skip the lightly reduced final -ic. Correction: emphasize the first syllable SKLUR; keep the “er” as a mid-central vowel /ɜː/ (US /ɜːr/), don’t reduce it to a mere schwa; end with a light /ɪk/ or /ɪk/ depending on pace. Practice with slow repetition of the full /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/ and record to compare.
US: /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/, rhotic with /ɜːr/ and clear /ɒ/. UK: /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/ similar, but non-rhotic tendencies may reduce the /r/ in some dialects; vowel qualities can be slightly more clipped. AU: /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/, with more centralized /ɜːr/ and a tendency toward broader vowels in stressed syllables. Across accents the main differences are rhoticity and vowel duration; ensure the initial consonant cluster remains distinct and the final -tic is light.
Two main challenges: the initial cluster /skl/ is hard to start smoothly, and the mid-central vowel in /ɜːr/ can be unfamiliar if your native language lacks a similar sound. The final /tɪk/ must flow without a strong stop in rapid speech. Focus on one-phoneme-at-a-time practice: master /skl/ onset, then the /ɜːr/ vowel, then the /ɒtɪk/ ending, using slowed, then progressively normal speech. Visualize lips and tongue positions and rehearse in phrases.
The -otic ending in -otic can be produced with a short, light /ɪk/ or a slightly open /ɪk/ depending on pace. In careful speech, ensure the syllable boundary is clear after the /ɜːr/; in casual speech, you may hear a slight yod-like off-glide or a softer end. IPA anchor: /ˈsklɜːrɒtɪk/; maintain the primary stress on SKLER and reduce the trailing vowel slightly.
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Sclerotic comes from the Greek sklēros (hard, hardening) and the suffix -otic, from -osis indicating a condition. The root sklēr- appears in terms like sclera (the white of the eye) and sclerosis (the process of hardening). The word entered English via scientific and medical usage, with the first recognizably medical use dating to the 17th–18th centuries as anatomy and pathology terminology expanded. The semantic path reflects a shift from a neutral descriptor of tissue to a clinical diagnosis of abnormal hardening. In modern usage, sclerotic commonly appears in ophthalmology, cardiology, neurology, and pathology discussions, often as part of phrases like “sclerotic arteries” or “sclerotic changes.” Over time, the term has broadened slightly to describe rigidity in systems or processes beyond strictly histological contexts, while retaining its core sense of pathological hardening or inflexibility. The term’s etymology underscores its diagnostic lineage: sclero- (hard) combined with -otic to indicate a condition or state. This history helps explain its precision: specific, technical, and often encountered in scholarly or clinical texts.
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Words that rhyme with "Sclerotic"
-tic sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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