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

Unlike standard hearing and vision tests, these assessments examine how the brain interprets what the child hears and sees and may help identify underlying weaknesses contributing to behaviors associated with ADHD or autism.

— Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 25 July 2026
Symptoms can include arm or leg pain, numbness, weakness and tingling, and Mayo Clinic advises calling a doctor if pain in the neck or back spreads to an arm or leg.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026

Definition of weakness

Noun

Punch was abandoned by his mother after his birth a year ago Sunday, presumably because of exhaustion.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Rescue teams must also reach the victim and remove them from the water quickly, particularly when exhaustion, cold or rough conditions could make survival more difficult.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026

Definition of exhaustion

Noun

The fever and the less intense strain often presents as a headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue.

— Mary Ella Hastings July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
Subscription fatigue is real and only getting worse; according to a 2023 Harvard Business School study, nearly 75% of consumer-facing companies offer some form of subscription service.

— Bee Wertheimer, PC Magazine, 24 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of debility

noun

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