as in elderly
showing a loss of mental ability (such as memory) in old age
a senile man in his eighties Her mother is becoming senile.
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Recent Examples of senile
In one story, Earn’s seemingly routine trip to church with Gloria, Jeanie, and his senile grandfather (Bob Banks) goes pear-shaped when Gloria abruptly drives off with her dad, leaving behind Earn and a bewildered Jeanie, who has recently been their father’s caretaker.
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Why do humans develop senile ovaries by age 30?
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
The sky broken by the bare oaks and elms of New Prospect was full of moist promise, a pair of frontal systems grayly colluding to deliver a white Christmas, when Russ Hildebrandt made his morning rounds among the homes of bedridden and senile parishioners in his Plymouth Fury wagon.
—Wyatt Mason, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for senile
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Why do humans develop senile ovaries by age 30?
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
The sky broken by the bare oaks and elms of New Prospect was full of moist promise, a pair of frontal systems grayly colluding to deliver a white Christmas, when Russ Hildebrandt made his morning rounds among the homes of bedridden and senile parishioners in his Plymouth Fury wagon.
—Wyatt Mason, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for senile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senile
Adjective
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Gunmen with the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, who have been fighting for control of Arcahaïe, reportedly stormed the village and opened fire on the population, killing women, children and elderly.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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Authorities later confirmed that Zinn was an elderly local political agitator, not the suspect, according to the New York Post.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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When Angels manager Ron Washington took medical leave in June for the remainder of the 2025 season, Bochy became the oldest skipper, and only septuagenarian, in MLB.—
Candace Oehler,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Viewed in this light, the old narrative of 1066 and its aftermath has much to recommend it.—
Will Collins,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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However, senior research strategist Michael Brown of foreign currency brokerage Pepperstone sketched out his theory after Miran’s weird triple mandate comment roiled bond trading desks across the globe.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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The dot plot visually represents where the Fed’s most senior policymakers think the federal funds rate is headed.—
Paul Weinstein Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Senile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senile. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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