cretinism
noun
cre·tin·ism
ˈkrē-tᵊn-ˌi-zəm 
: a usually congenital condition marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability and caused by severe hypothyroidism
Examples of cretinism in a Sentence
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Even Switzerland, like Bolivia, Nepal and other mountainous countries, once had high rates of goiters and cretinism caused by iodine deficiency, as did low-lying flood-prone areas far from the ocean in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
—
Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 21 July 2017
In 1997, according to Unicef, almost a fifth of its population had goiters — swollen thyroid glands in the neck that indicate serious deficiency, which can also cause dwarfism and cretinism.
—Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 15 May 2017
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Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 21 July 2017
In 1997, according to Unicef, almost a fifth of its population had goiters — swollen thyroid glands in the neck that indicate serious deficiency, which can also cause dwarfism and cretinism.
—Donald G. McNeil Jr., New York Times, 15 May 2017
Cite this Entry
“Cretinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cretinism. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cretinism
noun
cre·tin·ism
ˈkrēt-ᵊn-ˌiz-əm
: an abnormal condition that is usually present from birth, is marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability, and is caused by a lack of the secretion of the thyroid gland
Medical Definition
cretinism
noun
cre·tin·ism
-ᵊn-ˌiz-əm
: a usually congenital condition marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability and caused by severe thyroid deficiency
called also infantile myxedema
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