palliative

This term describes a focus on comfort and symptom management rather than a cure. In medical settings, it carries a compassionate, supportive connotation, often associated with end-of-life care where the goal shifts from eradication of disease to the preservation of quality of life.

In political or social contexts, the word takes on a more critical or skeptical tone. It suggests a superficial fix or a "band-aid" solution that masks a problem to prevent immediate outcry while leaving the systemic cause untouched.