disease

noun

di-ˈzēz How to pronounce disease (audio)
Definition of diseasenext
as in illness
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning they caught a rare disease while they were traveling in Africa and were sick for weeks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 disease Importantly, trial participants also saw significant reductions in blood sugar, as well as lower cholesterol and blood pressure—both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2026 Also, generic medications, orphan drugs for rare diseases and certain specialty medicines are largely exempt. — Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026 Researchers took mice used to model Alzheimer’s and other tauopathies, diseases marked by a buildup of the protein tau, and treated them with an antibody that blocks CXCR3, a molecule immune cells use to home in on sites of infection and damage. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026 So many of them have survived for centuries, weathering storms, disease, fire and now a changing climate. — Antonia Bowring, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disease
  1. illness
  2. ailment
  3. ill
  4. disorder
  5. fever
  6. condition
  7. sickness
Noun
  • Authorities have said Ervebo could offer some protection against Bundibugyo, but whether the vaccine can actually prevent illness is still being studied.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Blanchard has said her mother abused her for years and forced her to fake serious illnesses.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of illness
Noun
  • Miller, though, who is dealing with hip and back ailments, was downgraded to not participating Thursday after he was limited at Wednesday drills.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In determining whether to reimburse treatment for such ailments, insurers turn to Food and Drug Administration labels and expert guidelines.
    — Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ailment
Noun
  • In the story, the duck doesn’t make it, and the now-ill patient didn’t wear any gloves while handling it.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The game’s maker, Paolo Pedercini, has long diagnosed the ills of modern capitalism through countercultural video games like Phone Story (2011), which depicted the exploitative supply chain of a smartphone.
    — Lewis Gordon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ill
Noun
  • Following the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, her attorneys said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • She never has been diagnosed with an underlying seizure disorder, such as epilepsy, and a medical test to provoke a seizure in Linton after the crash came back with no abnormal brain activity, prosecutors said.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of disorder
Noun
  • Three Florida counties have declared states of emergency amid the spread of dengue fever in the state.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • What readers are saying The comments express concern over the spread of dengue fever, linking it to climate change and criticizing political figures and policies for inadequate responses.
    — Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of fever
Noun
  • In 2013 the agency issued a rule saying the exclusion should apply only when an orphan drug is actually used for the rare condition it was designated for.
    — John Mildenberger, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • It may not be recommended during pregnancy or for people who are immunocompromised or have certain medical conditions.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • From sickness and ennui came the writing of an algorithm that would solve the underlying mathematics of the bomb.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In the report, Shedd veterinarians said preexisting sickness likely compromised the whales’ health and left them vulnerable during the relocation process, which involved lifting the belugas by crane and flying them across international borders.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of sickness

Phrases Containing disease

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disdains
disease
diseased
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Cite this Entry

“Disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disease. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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