as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
suffered from a mysterious illness that left her weak and tired all the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illnesses
Over half of the illnesses are in children under 5 years old.
—
Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
Essayli said the individuals are accused of running fraudulent hospice care facilities that billed Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Part of the chain's strategy has been to open more pharmacy counters within Target stores and its small, in-store MinuteClinics for minor illnesses and injuries and simple care like vaccines.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The defendants were accused of running sham hospice care facilities that defrauded Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries, according to the California Justice Department.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2026
Over half of the illnesses were in children younger than 5.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
First, patients are surviving serious illnesses at higher rates.
—Diego Schaps, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
Over half of the illnesses are in children younger than 5.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
But that pattern of inequality was roughly consistent across space, unlike the sharp modern gaps between countries, and even kings and popes died of illnesses and suffered from toothaches like everyone else.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Kaan Ozcan, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
Essayli said the individuals are accused of running fraudulent hospice care facilities that billed Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Part of the chain's strategy has been to open more pharmacy counters within Target stores and its small, in-store MinuteClinics for minor illnesses and injuries and simple care like vaccines.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
The defendants were accused of running sham hospice care facilities that defrauded Medicare by using people without terminal illnesses as beneficiaries, according to the California Justice Department.
—Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 2 Apr. 2026
Over half of the illnesses were in children younger than 5.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
First, patients are surviving serious illnesses at higher rates.
—Diego Schaps, STAT, 1 Apr. 2026
Over half of the illnesses are in children younger than 5.
—ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
But that pattern of inequality was roughly consistent across space, unlike the sharp modern gaps between countries, and even kings and popes died of illnesses and suffered from toothaches like everyone else.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
-
The pair is part of a community of caregivers and their clients in Atlanta who experience the arts together as a way to manage the stress and impact of cognitive diseases.—
Monique John,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormones, age, or underlying medical conditions (like some autoimmune diseases).—
Nicole Hernandez,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both ailments required offseason surgery.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
These bacteria are known to cause a host of ailments, including listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Guillain-Barré syndrome, miscarriage, brucellosis, chronic inflammatory conditions, reactive arthritis and death.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The symptoms of our darkest cultural sicknesses become visible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
From the moment the kids set foot back at school in the fall, until some time around spring break, parents can expect sicknesses to take over their homes faster than the latest viral slang expression.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In his songs, the Virginia rapper renders societal ills in high definition.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The first New Mexico trial on the ills and dangers of social media platforms began in February after a nearly three-year probe by the state.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Others welcome the review, pointing to adverse reactions that have been reported among babies who got the shots, including fevers, seizures and even some deaths.—
March 25,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Following the diagnosis, Urso, 40, began treatment that has included extended hospital stays, fevers and rigorous chemotherapy sessions.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In some places, fish catches declined precipitously in medium depths, which Joye attributes to nutritionally barren conditions.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In a previous interview, Nichols said the union’s concerns center on pay, workload and job conditions for school administrators, including long hours and limited autonomy.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
