1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
suffered from a mysterious illness that left her weak and tired all the time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sickness
the condition of not being in good health
prone to illness as a child, he was sent to a western ranch with the expectation that it would toughen him up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illness
Samantha Eggar, the British actress best known for her roles in 1960s-’70s films The Collector, Doctor Dolittle and The Molly Maguires, died Wednesday, October 15, at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, after battling a five-year illness.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Directed by Sara Talab, this evocative period drama unfolds in 1960s Jeddah, where a young musician’s life is upended when illness robs him of his hearing.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Brigitte Bardot, 91, is recovering at home after being rushed to the hospital with a mystery illness.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
This type of mpox is associated with more severe illness, said public health officials.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illness
Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Directed by Sara Talab, this evocative period drama unfolds in 1960s Jeddah, where a young musician’s life is upended when illness robs him of his hearing.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Brigitte Bardot, 91, is recovering at home after being rushed to the hospital with a mystery illness.
—Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
This type of mpox is associated with more severe illness, said public health officials.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illness
Noun
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That research has also linked ultraprocessed foods to health concerns like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Other factors include age (most cases occur after age 50), diet (a high-fat diet can increase cancer risk), and family history of the disease.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For the severely malnourished, simply starting to eat normal meals again can cause sickness—even death.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
18 Oct. 2025
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Within the mud, squalor and sickness of the contraband camps, so too came the casting away of the former body and an emergence of a fuller kind of selfhood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But the old flivver was ticking along, reminding Drew of happy hours—leaning on opposing fenders under its hood with Lloyd, contemplating the Dart’s latest ailment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
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Sadly, his time with the company has been marred by injury and other physical ailments.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For all their ills, the Chargers are in first place.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
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The retraction was expected by many nutrition experts, who have long questioned claims that this kind of vinegar could remedy ills including obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
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Symptoms include severe headaches, high fevers, excessive vomiting, stiff neck and confusion, according to the CDC, and the best way to inoculate yourself against the disease is through vaccination.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illness. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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