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Defibrillate

v. resilient, capable professional

What it means

To deliver an electrical shock intended to stop fibrillation and allow an effective heart rhythm to resume.

Reach for it when naming the specific emergency treatment after a trained responder identifies a shockable rhythm

Paramedics prepared to defibrillate after the monitor showed a shockable rhythm.

Words to choose between 5

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
professional
formal

  • everyday

    revive

    Fits when a nontechnical summary of restored responsiveness is appropriate

    Careful Revive implies a successful outcome that a defibrillation attempt cannot promise.

  • everyday

    shock

    Fits when plain language for the electrical treatment is needed

    Careful Shock can mean injury, surprise, or electricity applied for another purpose.

  • professional

    cardiovert

    Fits when a synchronized procedure to restore heart rhythm is precise

    Careful Cardioversion is often synchronized and planned, unlike emergency defibrillation.

  • professional

    resuscitate

    Fits when the whole effort to restore breathing and circulation is intended

    Careful Resuscitation includes CPR and ventilation, not only a defibrillator shock.

  • formal

    treat

    Fits when the intervention need not be named for the audience

    Careful Treat leaves the exact lifesaving procedure unnamed.

Contrasts 3

Defibrillate has no exact everyday opposite. The words listed are contrasts: an opposing condition, a harmful direction, or no treatment at all.

  • fibrillate
  • destabilize
  • withhold treatment

Common phrases 3

  • defibrillate a patient

    Only trained responders should defibrillate a patient when the device advises a shock.

  • attempt to defibrillate

    The team continued compressions while preparing to attempt to defibrillate.

  • safely defibrillate

    Clear voice commands helped the responders safely defibrillate.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated