as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distemper
Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Samples collected from the bear were sent to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Arkansas Department of Health to test for distemper and rabies.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
The skunk with distemper is stuck in the window well again, chewing incessantly on the garden hose that is coiled up in there.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Noun
Dogs must be spayed (if 6 months or older) or neutered (if 12 months or older), up to date on shots including rabies, distemper, and Bordetella, and must be good around other dogs.
—Erik S. Hanley, jsonline.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Samples collected from the bear were sent to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the Arkansas Department of Health to test for distemper and rabies.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Bill Bowden, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2025
The skunk with distemper is stuck in the window well again, chewing incessantly on the garden hose that is coiled up in there.
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distemper
Noun
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Fox, 64, has worked for decades with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 29 in the early 1990s but kept private until 1998.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
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For instance, there may be more car crashes, animal bites, property damage and zoonotic disease transmission.—
Daniel T. Blumstein,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Aside from the primary deficit, economists are also alarmed by the interest payments now required to service the debt—estimated to come in at more than $1 trillion this year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The Rajput rulers of the Shivalik Hills, alarmed by the growing Sikh influence in the region, had sought Aurangzeb’s assistance after failed attempts to dislodge the Guru from Anandpur, Punjab.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hip-hop musician died on Monday, April 6, in Atlanta following a brief illness, her family told Billboard in a statement announcing the news.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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The shelter takes in about 350 animals each year, providing each one with medical attention, including spaying/neutering, vaccines, a microchip, testing for common illnesses, dewormer and flea and heartworm prevention.—
Amanda Rosa
April 9,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Rose had collected art her whole life, cared a lot about her paintings, and was disturbed, obviously, by this fact that wasn’t a fact.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Marcet’s intention was certainly not to disturb the religious faith of her young readers, most of whom would have been raised on a literal understanding of the biblical creation story.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In one case, a California prison guard with spinal problems also claimed other ailments, including toenail fungus and eczema, as work-disabling conditions.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
There, an old Tibetan man (Tsewang Migyur Khangsar) requests a Tibetan doctor to tend to his ever more troubling ailments.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Voters are also distressed by the decline in their quality of life, as well as the country’s muddled political landscape – a fact indicated by the twenty candidates for president alone.—
Djenane Villanueva,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
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Ecru denim also made an appearance, baggy and distressed for a grittier winter look.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In his songs, the Virginia rapper renders societal ills in high definition.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
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The first New Mexico trial on the ills and dangers of social media platforms began in February after a nearly three-year probe by the state.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Along the way, Melton strained his left thumb — and that clearly bothered him.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distemper. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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