as in diseases
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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Recent Examples of illnesses
First, Yung suggested speaking with a doctor to rule out any underlying illnesses.
—
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Getting into conflict with strays can leave them with severe injuries or new illnesses, which can be contracted from scratches or bites.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The girls team thrived despite what Tan described as a series of injuries and illnesses and commitments to other sports.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Researchers should prioritize drugs that are taken to treat serious chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, deadly infections such as HIV, and high fevers.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Cases of flu, RSV, COVID-19, and other common respiratory illnesses tend to spike as temperatures go down and the holidays approach, sending many Americans to pharmacy lines and waiting rooms to get up-to-date on immunizations.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
But the strains responsible for the majority of UTIs are not the ones typically associated with foodborne illnesses, which cause diarrhea and vomiting.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Louis said illnesses such as breast cancer aren’t spoken about among Haitian immigrants, and not doing so could have harmful effects.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
As of now, no illnesses related to this recall have been reported, but Publix encourages customers to remain vigilant.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2025
Getting into conflict with strays can leave them with severe injuries or new illnesses, which can be contracted from scratches or bites.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The girls team thrived despite what Tan described as a series of injuries and illnesses and commitments to other sports.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2025
Researchers should prioritize drugs that are taken to treat serious chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, deadly infections such as HIV, and high fevers.
—Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
Cases of flu, RSV, COVID-19, and other common respiratory illnesses tend to spike as temperatures go down and the holidays approach, sending many Americans to pharmacy lines and waiting rooms to get up-to-date on immunizations.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
But the strains responsible for the majority of UTIs are not the ones typically associated with foodborne illnesses, which cause diarrhea and vomiting.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Louis said illnesses such as breast cancer aren’t spoken about among Haitian immigrants, and not doing so could have harmful effects.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
As of now, no illnesses related to this recall have been reported, but Publix encourages customers to remain vigilant.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
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In adults, physical activity helps to prevent and manage health problems like cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety—while also enhancing brain health and overall wellbeing—according to the World Health Organization.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Specifically, the study found that the teens and young adults required medical care for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression, a physical health condition, injuries and poisoning, and other physical diseases.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Salmonella rarely results in more serious ailments, which can include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.—
Eva Wen,
jsonline.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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This is based on a mix of historical accounts, the discovery of body lice on the remains of soldiers (which carried the pathogens that transmitted the ailments), and DNA analyses conducted nearly a decade ago.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pathogens in human poop can remain active for a long time – over a year in outdoor environments – meaning that waste left behind today can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and other sicknesses for future visitors.—
B. Derrick Taff,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
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All their triumphs, all their sleepless nights, their loves and hates, their sicknesses, their schemes, their rises to power and their falls from it -- all gone.—
Paul Prather,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2016
Noun
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Ratti believes similar operations can be the soothing balm for retailers’ current ills.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
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And officials have long looked to play up the ills of other countries, especially the US, to boost their own image for domestic and, increasingly, international audiences.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Researchers should prioritize drugs that are taken to treat serious chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, deadly infections such as HIV, and high fevers.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And while mediators such as the United States, Egypt and Qatar play key roles in setting the political conditions for deals, the ICRC alone is poised to facilitate such swaps.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, forecasters said.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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