DEBILITIES Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

debility

noun

di-ˈbi-lə-tē

Definition of debility

as in weakness

the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor our grandmother's debility is due in large part to her advanced age

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of debility And, when pets suffered from cancer or heart failure or debility, conversations about what to do next were emotional but often straightforward. — Sunita Puri, New Yorker, 6 June 2026 His trajectory is one of softening, from the swaggering knight of the opening to the irrepressible lover of the second act to his final physical debility. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026 In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025 The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century. — Jenny Noyce, JSTOR Daily, 28 June 2024 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 Given their ages and debilities, these soldiers had been deemed unfit for active service. — David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023 The Covid-19 pandemic has driven widespread debility, whether a result of distress or the virus itself, compounded in either case by political abandonment and public health failures. — Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 8 Dec. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debility

Noun

Such declines can impact muscle strength, bone density, and libido, potentially causing fatigue and weakness.

— Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
At a meeting earlier this month, the RMG Sustainability Council warned that structural weaknesses could put lives and property at risk if the building remained open.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 July 2026

Definition of weakness

Noun

Competing demands — for example, from illness, injury, or chronic stress — can appear not only as poor health, but also as negative conscious experiences such as anxiety, brain fog, and exhaustion.

— Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 17 July 2026
Barrett said the goal is for the justices to have as large a security detail as those dedicated to Cabinet members, in part to avoid burnout and exhaustion among the four to eight officers typically assigned to each justice.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of exhaustion

Noun

If testosterone levels are too low, at any age, this can lead to muscle and bone weakness, fatigue, and decline in libido.

— Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Warning signs worth flagging to a doctor include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, severe daytime fatigue, persistent low mood, rapid heart rate and unexplained weight changes.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026

Definition of fatigue

Noun

As Kasubhai observed, despite its legal feebleness, Kennedy’s declaration and its explicit threat has had a concrete impact on the provision of gender-affirming services to American youths.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Signs of disease include warts on legs, crusty or swollen eyes, feebleness, a ruffled appearance, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, and diarrhea.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2026

Definition of feebleness

Noun

The cases were said to be in people with significant underlying health conditions, including organ and immune system dysfunction, as well as debilitation.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
Nobody wants to watch a loved one endure the pain, debilitation, and loss of independence that can follow a serious fall.

— Brian Frost, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of debilitation

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debilitation

debility

debit

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“Debility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debility. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of debility

noun

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