hydroxychloroquine

noun

hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine hī-ˌdräk-sē-ˈklȯr-ə-ˌkwēn How to pronounce hydroxychloroquine (audio)
-kwin
: a drug derived from quinolone that is taken orally in the form of its sulfate C18H26ClN3O·H2SO4 to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus
Two commonly used antimalarials are chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, both generic drugs.Consumer Reports
Originally an antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine is often … prescribed to people with mild, slowly progressing arthritis.Samir Sutaria

Examples of hydroxychloroquine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and while the president was taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative measure, his weight was pegged at 244 pounds. Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025 One of the most notable scientific papers that first popularized hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment was retracted from its journal due to ethical and methodological issues. Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024 Common antimalarial drugs that cause tinnitus include quinine, hydroxychloroquine, and chloroquine. Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 13 Dec. 2024 Early in the pandemic, Janet Woodcock, then the head of the FDA’s drug center, reportedly sprang into action to prevent widespread distribution of the unproven COVID treatment hydroxychloroquine over the orders of top Trump officials. Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hydroxychloroquine

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydroxychloroquine was in 1951

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hydroxychloroquine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydroxychloroquine. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

hydroxychloroquine

noun
hy·​droxy·​chlor·​o·​quine -ˈklōr-ə-ˌkwēn, -kwin How to pronounce hydroxychloroquine (audio)
: a drug derived from quinoline that is administered orally in the form of its sulfate C18H26ClN3O·H2SO4 to treat malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus erythematosus see plaquenil
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!