Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Panacea
noun
/ pan-uh-SEE-uh /
Easy
Meaning
A solution or remedy claimed to cure all difficulties, diseases, or problems; a universal fix-all.
Origin / Etymology
Greek panakeia (all-healing), from pan (all) + akos (remedy) — also the name of the Greek goddess of universal health
Synonyms
Cure-all
Universal remedy
Silver bullet
Antonyms
Aggravation
Problem
Example Sentence
"Technology is not a panacea for deep-rooted social inequality — digitising welfare delivery without addressing exclusion errors and last-mile connectivity perpetuates the same injustices in a new form."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in Essay and GS Mains answers to caution against oversimplified solutions — technology, privatisation, or a single policy instrument as a cure-all. Particularly powerful in essays where you need to add nuance after proposing solutions.
Relevant Subjects