1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
an 18th-century quack who specialized in those mysterious infirmities that are known only to the idle rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
a period of infirmity left the athlete completely out of shape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infirmity
The grandmother’s creeping infirmity does little to curb her excursions with Sophia.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
Is Jill Biden Edith Wilson, an overprotective First Lady clinging to power in the face of her husband’s obvious infirmity?
—airmail.news, 13 July 2024
And yet Francis has never been shy about showing his frailty, age or infirmities in ways that seem unthinkable for public figures for whom any sign of fragility can threaten their authority and undermine their agenda.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Kureishi has been ambushed by the physical infirmities of age in a rare way.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
Is Jill Biden Edith Wilson, an overprotective First Lady clinging to power in the face of her husband’s obvious infirmity?
—airmail.news, 13 July 2024
And yet Francis has never been shy about showing his frailty, age or infirmities in ways that seem unthinkable for public figures for whom any sign of fragility can threaten their authority and undermine their agenda.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2025
Kureishi has been ambushed by the physical infirmities of age in a rare way.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmity
Noun
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This marks a major shift from older Alzheimer's treatments, which could only manage symptoms without slowing down the disease much.—
Allen Chang,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2025
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Alzheimer's researchers believe the disease takes root with brain changes before memory and thinking problems surface.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Without the puck, Nurse and Bouchard have the same weakness (read and react, wandering).—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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But for many military families, seeking help is seen as a sign of weakness.—
Anne Ritter,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Pet owners should watch for signs of illness and consult a veterinarian with concerns, according to Douglas County health officials.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
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Modern medicine’s first attempt to cure psychiatric illness through surgery may be traced back to the late 19th century, when Gottlieb Burckhardt, a Swiss psychiatrist, removed tissue from the cerebral cortex in a half-dozen patients.—
Frieda Klotz,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Without it, this ongoing mental strain could easily have led to feelings of exhaustion, stress, and burnout—all signifiers of PPD.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
1 May 2025
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At the end of this rally phase, the RSI pushed into the overbought region which suggests a potential exhaustion point.—
David Keller,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
Noun
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The North American run of the tour, which kicked off last April, was plagued with several cancellations and postponements due to the singer suffering various ailments.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
27 Apr. 2025
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Francis died Monday at 88 years old following a life-threatening battle with respiratory ailments.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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From worrying about how much TV little kids can watch to what social media is doing to the mental health of teens, parenting has turned into a constant battle against the ills of the screen.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
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Every possible ill, every source of embarrassment to their bourgeois sensibilities, was blamed on the plant.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
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President Biden’s troubles — lingering inflation, wars and rumors of wars, his debility — could have benefited any Republican.—
David Harsanyi,
National Review,
25 Jan. 2024
Noun
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But that drop is just one indication of serious financial sickness at the EV maker, problems brought on by falling sales for the first time in its history and falling prices for electric vehicles.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2025
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Among them are loss, sickness and the perception of being a burden to others.—
Ashley Milne-Tyte,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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