distemper 1 of 2

noun

Definition of distempernext
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distemper

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈtem-pər How to pronounce distemper (audio)
as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life

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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 distemper
Noun
According to the shelter, staff had already been monitoring for signs of distemper due to cases reported in surrounding counties. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Per Cook County ordinance, dog owners also must submit their dogs' vaccine records — with proof of their dogs' vaccines or titers (antibodies) for rabies, distemper (CFV), hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2), parainfluenza (CPIV), parvovirus (CPV), leptospirosis, and Bordetella (kennel cough). — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
Mother had purchased a new bed and armoire for his room, and the walls were freshly distempered. — Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distemper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distemper
  1. disease
  2. alarm
  3. illness
  4. disturb
  5. ailment
  6. distress
  7. ill
  8. bother
Noun
  • Already large clinical trials are testing if certain drugs could prevent or at least delay the disease — and if any of those pan out, doctors will need an easy way to tell who should try them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
  • The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office determined Quinonez Palomares died of cardiovascular disease, with obesity listed as a significant contributing condition.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • As a former internee at Guantánamo and a onetime federal inmate, Rey had enough experience to be immediately alarmed by the chaos at Camp East Montana.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
  • Europe, for its part, is alarmed by the prospect of American abandonment of Ukraine.
    — Galip Dalay, Time, 7 July 2026
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • Cyclosporiasis has been sickening thousands of people across the country, particularly in Michigan, recently with an intestinal illness causing explosive diarrhea with severe stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and unintended weight loss.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
  • Michigan, the state with the highest case count, has recorded more than 5,000 illnesses as of July 17.
    — Jaewon Kang, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of illness
Verb
  • White-footed mice, which do carry the culprit bacteria — charmingly named Borrelia burgdorferi — thrive in areas disturbed by people, according to Ostfeld.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Clear your calendar, put your phone on ‘Do not disturb’ and enjoy.
    — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of disturb
Noun
  • For the third time in a year, his young career has been temporarily derailed by an injury — this time, a thumb ailment that will sideline him into August.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • The respiratory ailment's name comes from an outbreak that hit attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Jeffrey Tam, a lawyer for nine residents of the Wang Fuk Court, noted some residents decided to give evidence despite being distressed by the tragedy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
  • Denim shirts were slim and distressed with markings and patchwork.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • Last month, Kwon’s team, in collaboration with Seongju Kim at Hanbat National University, in Daejeon, South Korea, presented its solution to HBM’s future ills.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026
  • Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of ill
Verb
  • The tequila shrimp empanadas disappear quickly, while the huitlacoche quesadilla folds Oaxaca cheese, mushrooms, roasted corn, and salsa macha crema into something deeper and earthier than most Midtown menus bother attempting.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Maybe altering the letters bothered her most because publication inevitably makes the integrity of a letter—the message from writer to recipient—secondary.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of bother

Browse Nearby Words

distastes
distemper
distemperature
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Cite this Entry

“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distemper. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on distemper

Nglish: Translation of distemper for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about distemper

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