as in illnesses
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
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Recent Examples of diseases
While many consider the mammal a nuisance for raiding garbage cans and damaging property, raccoons can also carry diseases, and they probably shouldn't be kept as housepets.
—
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Consuming too many calories paves the way for obesity and related diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The dietary recommendations were based on data about risks of preventable diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, not environmental criteria.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Today, radioactive iodine is used regularly to treat thyroid diseases.
—Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
This state, called cellular senescence, has been linked to diseases such as cancer.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
The change also aligned with the WHO’s guidelines for naming diseases, which emphasize avoiding names that are offensive to cultural groups, or that negatively impact trade, tourism, or animal welfare.
—Dr. Nikki Romanik, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Tens of thousands of people have fallen ill with dengue, cholera, and other diseases after recent rains, compounding a series of crises in the country.
—semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
But those diseases aren’t common in North Carolina, Hayes said.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Consuming too many calories paves the way for obesity and related diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The dietary recommendations were based on data about risks of preventable diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, not environmental criteria.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Today, radioactive iodine is used regularly to treat thyroid diseases.
—Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
This state, called cellular senescence, has been linked to diseases such as cancer.
—New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2025
The change also aligned with the WHO’s guidelines for naming diseases, which emphasize avoiding names that are offensive to cultural groups, or that negatively impact trade, tourism, or animal welfare.
—Dr. Nikki Romanik, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Tens of thousands of people have fallen ill with dengue, cholera, and other diseases after recent rains, compounding a series of crises in the country.
—semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
But those diseases aren’t common in North Carolina, Hayes said.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diseases
Noun
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Hospitalization is necessary for most patients and the disease has a case-fatality rate of about 20%, which is far greater than other foodborne illnesses.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Timely treatment of acute illnesses and consistent management of chronic conditions or special needs are also vital to prevent deterioration and long-term consequences into adulthood.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For a more comprehensive mind-body tune-up, guests can opt for a multi-day Paths to Wellbeing program, which targets specific ailments, such as insomnia.—
Siobhan Reid,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
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Aiyuk, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 7 of last season, isn't close to returning, and Pearsall and Jennings have what appear to be more minor ailments.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pathogens in human poop can remain active for a long time – over a year in outdoor environments – meaning that waste left behind today can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and other sicknesses for future visitors.—
B. Derrick Taff,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
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All their triumphs, all their sleepless nights, their loves and hates, their sicknesses, their schemes, their rises to power and their falls from it -- all gone.—
Paul Prather,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2016
Noun
-
Orbán has long sought to consolidate his power through concocting scapegoats for Hungary’s ills.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
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Pandora has opened her box and its ills are fully integrated into our world.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Shortly before Biden left office in January, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas granted an extension of the protections through October 2026 because the conditions in Venezuela warranted it.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
4 Oct. 2025
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The spacecraft can reach speeds above Mach 20, maintain extreme conditions for longer durations, and sustain heavy g-forces.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Chronic inhalation has caused cancer, various blood disorders and affects women’s reproductive organs, the Environmental Protection Agency has reported.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
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Earlier this year, a report published in the medical journal The Lancet called on international health leaders to act quickly on regulations before gambling disorders become widespread and common, and that much harder to stop.—
Karen Brown,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The character—whose superpower is fighting fevers, which are often present during cancer treatment—has long served as an informal mascot for patients and families.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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But there was no report of the spiking fevers that characterize malaria.—
Tom Frieden,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diseases. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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