ribavirin

noun
ri·​ba·​vi·​rin | \ ˌrī-bə-ˈvī-rən How to pronounce ribavirin (audio) \

Definition of ribavirin

: a synthetic broad-spectrum antiviral nucleoside C8H12N4O5

Examples of ribavirin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Domingo and Vignuzzi pointed out that the popular antiviral medication ribavirin pushes viruses to develop a swarm that is so big and so full of mutations that the resulting viral potluck is missing vital components. Quanta Magazine, "How Mutant Viral Swarms Spread Disease," 25 Aug. 2015 Nor is everyone convinced that ribavirin works in Lassa fever, as the only data come from the 1980s, Augier says. Leslie Roberts, Science | AAAS, "Health workers scramble to contain deadly rat-borne fever in Nigeria," 12 Mar. 2018 For now, the only treatment is a nonspecific antiviral drug, ribavirin. Leslie Roberts, Science | AAAS, "Health workers scramble to contain deadly rat-borne fever in Nigeria," 12 Mar. 2018 There is no vaccine and no definitive cure, although an antiviral drug, ribavirin, can be helpful if given early. Donald G. Mcneil Jr., New York Times, "Lassa Fever Erupts in Nigeria," 16 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ribavirin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of ribavirin

1974, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ribavirin

perhaps from ribonucleic acid + virus + -in entry 1

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More Definitions for ribavirin

ribavirin

noun
ri·​ba·​vi·​rin | \ ˌrī-bə-ˈvī-rən How to pronounce ribavirin (audio) \

Medical Definition of ribavirin

: a synthetic broad-spectrum antiviral drug C8H12N4O5 that is a nucleoside resembling guanosine