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
Few foods feel as instantly comforting as a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup, especially during cold weather or illness.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Just as human beings face illness and death from a range of bacteria, so too do plants (even though, as New Atlas has reported, some bacteria also help plants and humans).
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Qualified individuals must also be at least 18 years old, an Indiana resident, diagnosed with a terminal illness by a qualified provider, and have voluntarily expressed a wish to receive medical aid in dying to their provider.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The role focuses on identifying workplace risks and recommending changes to prevent employee injuries and illnesses.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illness
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Just as human beings face illness and death from a range of bacteria, so too do plants (even though, as New Atlas has reported, some bacteria also help plants and humans).
—New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2026
Qualified individuals must also be at least 18 years old, an Indiana resident, diagnosed with a terminal illness by a qualified provider, and have voluntarily expressed a wish to receive medical aid in dying to their provider.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The role focuses on identifying workplace risks and recommending changes to prevent employee injuries and illnesses.
—Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for illness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illness
Noun
-
Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In 2024, Patrick's widow Lisa Niemi Swayze teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This can lead to extreme sickness, weakness, and even paralysis.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
-
This is actually a cultural sickness.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring ailment, was present.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As a result of her work with AMRs, Wise avoids framing humanoids as some sort of industrial panacea for every economic ill, from labor shortages to manufacturing bottlenecks.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Paster is prepared for the fever dream of a press trail that awaits them.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, vomiting and fever come on suddenly, and may be mistaken for other minor illnesses.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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