the cure is worse than the disease

phrase

The medical treatment for an illness produces a worse net result than the illness does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via adverse effects.

OriginLatin aegrescit medendo →
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Meanings

phrase
  1. The medical treatment for an illness produces a worse net result than the illness does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via adverse effects.
  2. figurativelyThe solution or proposed solution to a problem produces a worse net result than the problem does (or threatens a non-negligible risk of doing so), especially via unintended consequences.

    Regarding the repeal of the Glass-Steagall act and other repeals of financial regulations, or even in legislating new financial regulations, you have to be careful that the cure is not worse than the disease.

    2014-06-11, Robert Johnson The Real News Network

Origin

  1. Latinaegrescit medendo
  2. Englishthe cure is worse than the disease

From Latin aegrescit medendo (literally “it worsens with healing”) attributed to Virgil in book XII of the Aeneid.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish lääke on pahempi kuin tauti
  • lääke on pahempi kuin tautiThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
French le remède est pire que le mal
  • le remède est pire que le malThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
Polish rozwiązanie pogarsza sprawę
  • rozwiązanie pogarsza sprawęThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
Portuguese pior a emenda que o soneto, a emenda sair pior que o soneto
  • pior a emenda que o sonetoThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
  • a emenda sair pior que o sonetoThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
Spanish es peor el remedio que la enfermedad, el remedio es peor que la enfermedad
  • es peor el remedio que la enfermedadThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
  • el remedio es peor que la enfermedadThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
Vietnamese chữa lợn lành thành lợn què
  • chữa lợn lành thành lợn quèThe solution to a problem produces a worse net result
Cite this entry
APA

the cure is worse than the disease. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cure%20is%20worse%20than%20the%20disease

MLA

“the cure is worse than the disease.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cure%20is%20worse%20than%20the%20disease. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the cure is worse than the disease,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20cure%20is%20worse%20than%20the%20disease.

Source: the cure is worse than the disease on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.