as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
in the olden days people were always suffering from some unknown malady
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Recent Examples of maladies
More marketers of health and wellness products and services came to the Super Bowl to tout weight loss pills, telehealth services and even getting consumers to take tests that might identify potential maladies.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
The hotel industry’s woes are a reminder that significant segments of the Bay Area economy have yet to fully recover from the after-effects of the maladies unleashed by the coronavirus outbreak.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Relying on medications as front-line, first-choice solutions for today’s major maladies ignores two alternative approaches that may more effectively address our most common conditions.
—Thomas Goetz, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
Since being diagnosed with a number of maladies over the years, including hypothyroidism, leaky gut and a gluten intolerance, McCarthy has been on a quest to put better things not only in her body but on her body.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
To paraphrase Tolstoy, all stable liberal democracies have a family resemblance; all failing dictatorships have maladies of their own.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Previously, skeptics have argued that China’s regime would be toppled, or its economic growth torpedoed, by a variety of maladies—public backlash in response to repressive COVID-19 policies, for example, or the costs of mitigating environmental devastation.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
And the Sea Lions have dealt with a number of maladies, most recently a hamstring injury to Langford.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
This work transformed me and healed me of many modern maladies.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
The hotel industry’s woes are a reminder that significant segments of the Bay Area economy have yet to fully recover from the after-effects of the maladies unleashed by the coronavirus outbreak.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Relying on medications as front-line, first-choice solutions for today’s major maladies ignores two alternative approaches that may more effectively address our most common conditions.
—Thomas Goetz, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
Since being diagnosed with a number of maladies over the years, including hypothyroidism, leaky gut and a gluten intolerance, McCarthy has been on a quest to put better things not only in her body but on her body.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
To paraphrase Tolstoy, all stable liberal democracies have a family resemblance; all failing dictatorships have maladies of their own.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Previously, skeptics have argued that China’s regime would be toppled, or its economic growth torpedoed, by a variety of maladies—public backlash in response to repressive COVID-19 policies, for example, or the costs of mitigating environmental devastation.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
And the Sea Lions have dealt with a number of maladies, most recently a hamstring injury to Langford.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
This work transformed me and healed me of many modern maladies.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
-
Cassidy, a physician specializing in liver diseases and a vocal supporter of vaccination, had questioned Kennedy sharply in a hearing about his views on shots.—
Amanda Seitz,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Smoking Like other lung diseases, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking or significant secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of adult onset asthma.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In recent weeks, Doncic has grappled with ankle and groin ailments as well; the wear-and-tear of the season emerging just before the All-Star break.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The spice's active compound, curcumin, is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can help support a range of ailments and conditions.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the launch of a mass drug administration program has allowed the country to treat around 100 million people for NTDs annually since 2019, The END Fund found, with the disease burden for some illnesses reducing by as much as 72%.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Now, those vaccines, which researchers estimate have prevented thousands of deaths and millions of illnesses, are recommended by the CDC only for children at high risk of serious illness or after consultation between doctors and parents.—
Amanda Seitz,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The conductor added that opera not only reveals societal ills but can model what an ideal society can look like.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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During the 1980s, both tabloids pandered to the racial resentments and fears of white New Yorkers when covering all of the city’s ills.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
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And among parents, the fear of illnesses like polio, measles and other sicknesses were always present.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maladies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladies. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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