dementia

noun

di-ˈmen(t)-shə How to pronounce dementia (audio)
Definition of dementianext
as in schizophrenia
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life doctors were able to treat the patient's dementia with drugs and thus allow him to function on his own

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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 dementia Because of her father’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, she was drawn to the company’s APOE genetic test to determine her risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026 In 2024, Wiliams was diagnosed with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026 Rumer Willis is opening up about how her dad Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis has impacted her life. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 In February 2024, Williams' team announced that she had been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023 after years of speculation about changes in her behavior and speech. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dementia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dementia
  1. schizophrenia
  2. insanity
  3. hysteria
  4. madness
  5. instability
Noun
  • But no one checked tickets, and only passengers were in the car when Brown, a 32-year-old homeless man diagnosed with schizophrenia, is accused of stabbing Zarutska’s neck.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Dominguez, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the killings and the near-fatal attack on the spree’s sole survivor, Kimberlee Guillory, at both his retrial and his initial 2025 murder trial.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of schizophrenia
Noun
  • Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of murder in the killings of her children Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While known as lacking criminal responsibility under Massachusetts law, the defense is more commonly referred to as not guilty by reason of insanity.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • The roughly 25-acre farm is also home to a reproduction of the Salem Village Meeting House, the site of many early hearings about the Salem witchcraft hysteria.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has rejected all accusations of espionage, portraying them as part of anti-Russian hysteria.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hysteria
Noun
  • Can a squad of scientists (including Kurt Russell) fight off madness and mayhem before the Thing overtakes them all?
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This week the madness leaps from the stage to the screen as Stamptown premieres its first Netflix special Tuesday.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • At their worst, a cloud of quarterback instability overshadowed the season.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • With Fenway Sports Group CEO of football Michael Edwards leaving last month and sporting director Richard Hughes expected to follow after this summer’s window, there’s no shortage of uncertainty and instability above Iraola.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of instability

Browse Nearby Words

dementedness
dementia
demerit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dementia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dementia. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dementia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dementia

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