illness
noun
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Definition of illness
1a : sickness sense 2
b : an unhealthy condition of body or mind
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Synonyms & Antonyms for illness
Synonyms
indisposition, sickness, unhealthiness, unsoundness
Antonyms
health, healthiness, soundness, wellness, wholeness, wholesomeness
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Examples of illness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the center of this debate are the poor and uninsured, who have long been used as scapegoats for their illnesses and inability to pay. — Vijay Govindarajan, STAT, "What India can teach the U.S. about driving down the cost of health care," 10 July 2018 Rebecca put on a brave face through the challenges of her illness and continued to work tirelessly for her clients. — OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 7/7," 7 July 2018 His illness was first diagnosed right about the time Ann entered hospice care at home. — Jim Stingl, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Stingl: Educators spread the joy of music to many. And they accidentally led me to my wife," 6 July 2018 Authorities are unsure about where and when the couple were exposed to the nerve agent, but believe their illness may be collateral damage from the Skripal poisoning. — Ciara Nugent, Time, "'There Will Be Severe Pain.' What to Know About the New Novichok Nerve Agent Poisoning in the U.K.," 5 July 2018 Second, accept that your mother has no control of her actions and thoughts at this stage in her illness. — Veronica Mitchell, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ask Veronica — Accepting the truth about dementia-fueled outbursts," 2 July 2018 Lillian had lived in Fort Lauderdale since 1954 and was an active member of First Lutheran Church prior to her illness. — Sun-Sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 7/1," 1 July 2018 About one-third of people with the disease become combative during the course of their illness, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. — NBC News, "Unlocked And loaded: Families confront dementia and guns," 26 June 2018 His psychological illness, moreover, is capable of outlasting anyone else’s mental health. — Andrew Sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Making Us All Live in His Delusional Reality Show," 15 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'illness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for illness
illness
noun
English Language Learners Definition of illness
: a condition of being unhealthy in your body or mind
: a specific condition that prevents your body or mind from working normally : a sickness or disease
See the full definition for illness in the English Language Learners Dictionary
illness
noun
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Kids Definition of illness
1 : an unhealthy condition of the body or mind Germs can cause illness.
2 : a specific sickness or disease Colds are a common illness.
illness
noun
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Medical Definition of illness
: an unhealthy condition of body or mind : sickness
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