ILLNESS Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

illness

noun

ˈil-nəs

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 But for children younger than 5 and adults over 65, severe illness, including dehydration that requires hospitalization, is more likely. —

Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026 The best way to prevent illness is to wash hands after handling poultry, their food or items in their environment. —

Jonel Aleccia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 Veteran point guard Shey Peddy was ruled out with a lower left leg injury, and rookie point guard Harmoni Turner was a late scratch due to illness, which forced Meziane to rework his lineups last minute. —

Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026 Shingles is a rash-causing illness which can be painful, itchy or tingly, and is caused by a virus reactivating, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. —

ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illness

Noun

Hantavirus disease is considered rare, with 890 cases reported in the United States between 1993 and 2023.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 7 May 2026
In 2024, for example, more than 700 newborns died from spontaneous bleeding in their brains, which could have been complicated by liver disease or prematurity.

— Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026