as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of distemper
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Noun
Per Cook County ordinance, dog owners also must submit their dogs' vaccine records — with proof of their dogs' vaccines or titers (antibodies) for rabies, distemper (CFV), hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2), parainfluenza (CPIV), parvovirus (CPV), leptospirosis, and Bordetella (kennel cough).
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mother had purchased a new bed and armoire for his room, and the walls were freshly distempered.
—Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distemper
Noun
-
Over time, however, the disease has spread across the East Coast and Midwest, with diagnoses reaching 35 states.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
-
In later life, this formative programming can increase the risk of not only mental illnesses like depression, but physical diseases too, such as cancer and obesity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
That threat alone should alarm anyone who pays bills, runs a business, or has seen government expand as basic services deteriorate.—
Matt Klink,
Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Steadman Stahl, the president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, told CBS News Miami that he is alarmed by this case and hopes someone can help find the suspect.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can result in serious illness and death in birds and mammals.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Instead of relying on a traditional metal antenna to capture a signal, the system uses lasers to monitor how incoming radio waves disturb the atoms.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
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Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Today many Coloradans are saddened and distressed by this unjustifiable act but not at all surprised.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
Timothée Chalamet distressed and overdyed jeans with a brown suede jacket, while Jason Momoa paired a leather jacket with coated jeans.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now the dog is back to bothering her brother and showing off her sassy personality.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a nakedly partisan power grab, and state officials haven’t really bothered to deny it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distemper. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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