Consumptive: meaning, definitions and examples

This word was commonly used in the past to refer to people suffering from tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. It's considered outdated and potentially offensive in modern usage.

• The novel tells a tragic story of a consumptive artist in the 19th century.
• In those days, consumptive patients were often sent to sanatoriums.

This adjective specifically relates to tuberculosis, used in medical and scientific contexts to describe symptoms, conditions, or patients affected by the disease.

• The doctor noted tubercular lesions on the patient's X-ray.
• Historical records show a high number of tubercular cases in industrial cities.

This term is a medical adjective describing anything related to the lungs, often used in clinical and scientific contexts.

• The patient was diagnosed with a severe pulmonary infection.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation can significantly improve the quality of life for many individuals with chronic lung diseases.

This word is used to describe someone who suffers from tuberculosis. It can also be used to describe something that consumes or uses up resources, usually in a destructive or excessive way. It may carry a more technical or old-fashioned tone.

• In the 19th century, many consumptive individuals were sent to sanatoriums.
• The consumptive nature of this machine worries environmentalists.

Use this word when emphasizing the unnecessary or careless use of resources, money, or energy. It carries a negative connotation and is often used to criticize poor management or overuse.

• Leaving the lights on all night is very wasteful.
• The company's wasteful spending habits were unsustainable.

This word should be used when talking about spending too much money or using too many resources, often in a way that seems wasteful or luxurious. It implies a sense of excess and is usually associated with negative implications.

• Her extravagant lifestyle eventually led her into debt.
• They threw an extravagant party that cost a fortune.