1
as in pharmacists
a person who prepares drugs according to a doctor's prescription
in olden days the apothecary had few drugs that actually cured anything, most substances being little more than pain relievers
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in pharmacies
a retail store where medicines and miscellaneous articles are sold
the historic village boasts an old-fashioned apothecary that's been there for almost a century and a half
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Recent Examples of apothecaries
In densely populated neighborhoods of flimsy wooden houses, charcoal braziers tumbled over, fuel tanks ruptured, combustible chemicals in apothecaries exploded, and high winds fanned the flames through alleys.
—
Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
For decades after the nation’s founding, doctors had competition from homeopaths, herbalists, apothecaries, midwives, and religious healers—not to mention mothers.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Eventually, hard candies were made from the plant and carried in many apothecaries and general stores.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
Joshua Hammer, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
For decades after the nation’s founding, doctors had competition from homeopaths, herbalists, apothecaries, midwives, and religious healers—not to mention mothers.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Eventually, hard candies were made from the plant and carried in many apothecaries and general stores.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apothecaries
Noun
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Women make up 60% of pharmacists, who number 335,100.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The infusion center started with two chairs but has since grown to encompass 10 spots for patients, three full-time pharmacists and three full-time oncology nurses.—
Caleb Hellerman,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Koniver began ordering peptides from compounding pharmacies, which produce custom medications.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The website doesn't process insurance claims, instead directing cash-paying consumers to drug manufacturers websites or coupons that can be used at pharmacies.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apothecaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apothecaries. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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