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
Snakes help control rodent and insect populations, reducing the spread of diseases like Lyme disease.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Instead of a withering blast that annihilates you instantly, the real killer would be a highly elevated risk of cancer and degenerative diseases over time.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 May 2026
The man died aboard the ship on April 11, and at the time, hantavirus was not suspected because his respiratory symptoms resembled those of other diseases.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Future work will focus on refining the device to study brain development, model specific neurological diseases, and test experimental treatments.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
But, that's how these diseases work.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The agency estimates that immunizations prevent millions of deaths every year from diseases like tetanus, influenza and measles.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Hantaviruses are a rare family of diseases that are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings or urine, according to the Department of State Health Services.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Meanwhile, the close proximity of people hastened the transmission of mycobacterial diseases through coughing.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Instead of a withering blast that annihilates you instantly, the real killer would be a highly elevated risk of cancer and degenerative diseases over time.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 May 2026
The man died aboard the ship on April 11, and at the time, hantavirus was not suspected because his respiratory symptoms resembled those of other diseases.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Future work will focus on refining the device to study brain development, model specific neurological diseases, and test experimental treatments.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026
But, that's how these diseases work.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
The agency estimates that immunizations prevent millions of deaths every year from diseases like tetanus, influenza and measles.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Hantaviruses are a rare family of diseases that are usually spread through contact with wild rodent droppings or urine, according to the Department of State Health Services.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Meanwhile, the close proximity of people hastened the transmission of mycobacterial diseases through coughing.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diseases
Noun
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What illnesses are currently trending in Boise?—
Hali Smith
May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
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According to Mitchell, the San Marcos Police Department is investigating the students’ illnesses, and the staff member who sold the cookies to students was removed from the district.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The Valkyries are going into Sunday’s home opener against Phoenix with injuries to Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini – both nursing ailments from Friday’s game – and guard Justė Jocytė still fulfilling her overseas commitment before joining the team.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
-
The Hornets were down to seven healthy players for the final stretch of games, including Williams with an assortment of ailments.—
Joe Davidson
May 7,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The symptoms of our darkest cultural sicknesses become visible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Candidates for District 9 interviewed by the Southern California News Group said many residents increasingly connect ethics and accountability concerns at City Hall with broader frustrations over neighborhood conditions, city services and economic investment in the district.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
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The study notes that roughly half of the United States' nearly 15,000 wastewater treatment facilities use anaerobic digestion, a process in which microbes break down sewage sludge in oxygen-free conditions to reduce waste volume while producing biogas.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Carswell typically houses inmates with physical disabilities or illnesses, as well as mental illnesses and disorders.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
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In addition to causing rare but slow-burn, fatal neurological disorders that can kill a child years after a measles infection, the virus can also wipe the immune system’s memory, destroying cells that fight off other infections.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Common symptoms people experience are headaches, muscle aches, serious fevers, coughing, chest pains, shortness of breath and nausea, according to Kaiser Permanente.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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At first, hantavirus can feel like the flu, with patients suffering from fatigue, fevers, chills and aches.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diseases. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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