simvastatin

S1I1M3V4A1S1T1A1T1I1N1
US/ˈsɪm.vəˌstæt.n̩/US/ˌsɪm.vəˈstæt.n̩/

noun

A semisynthetic drug C₂₅H₃₈O₅ that decreases the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream and is derived from a compound produced by a mold (Aspergillus terreus).

Similar
Zocor
UncommonScrabble 16

Meanings

nounsimvastatin (countable and uncountable, plural simvastatins)

plural simvastatins

  1. countableuncountablemedicineA semisynthetic drug C₂₅H₃₈O₅ that decreases the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream and is derived from a compound produced by a mold (Aspergillus terreus).

    The researchers found that statins were likely to provide benefits at a substantially higher health risk than expected and that those risk levels were lower for atorvastatin and rosuvastatin than for simvastatin and pravastatin.

    2018 December 3, Jacqueline Howard, “Are statins overprescribed? Why the risks and benefits are so complex”, in CNN
    1 more example

    The last compound, gemfibrozil is the sole antilipidemic compound found (up to 3 ng/L) in a USA survey of 18 DWTPs whereas atorvastatin, simvastatin and their metabolites, the other studied compounds, were absent (Benotti et al., 2009). In our study, the two statins identified at the intake of the DWTP were eliminated by dioxychlorination (>99%) whereas bezafibrate, clofibric acid and gemfibrozil were only moderately removed with percentages of 37%, 68% and 11%, respectively although it has been reported that gemfibrozil and clofibric acid are readily oxidized with chlorine dioxide in spiked drinking water whereas bezafibrate remains unchanged (Huber et al., 2005a).

    2011 June 28, Ma Rosa Boleda, Ma Teresa Galceran, Francesc Ventura, “Behavior of pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse in a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) using combined conventional and ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis (UF/RO) treatments”, in Environmental Pollution, volume 159, number 6, →DOI, pages 1584-1591

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan oral lipid-lowering medicine (trade name Zocor) administered to reduce blood cholesterol levels; recommended after heart attacks

Similar
Zocor
Broader
lipid-lowering medicinelipid-lowering medicationstatin drug
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Probably from sim- (“alteration of synthetic”) + -vastatin (“HMG CoA reductase inhibitor”).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with simvastatin

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

simvastatin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/simvastatin

MLA

“simvastatin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/simvastatin. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “simvastatin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/simvastatin.

Source: simvastatin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.