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
Relevance
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 illnesses
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.
—
Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Further genetic sequencing is ongoing today to determine the strain causing the illnesses.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
The camp was rife with illnesses, including cholera, and Ibrahim became severely sick.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
The disparities also extended to preventable deaths before age 75, including deaths tied to drug overdoses, car crashes and treatable illnesses.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
The Cavs are dealing with some illnesses.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Medical marijuana is only available to Georgians with approval from a physician to treat severe illnesses, including seizures, terminal cancers, Parkinson's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 May 2026
So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the powdered milk recall.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Leapfrog evaluates hospital safety based on the prevention of medical errors, illnesses, injuries and infections.
—Eva Flowe
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Evan Bush, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Further genetic sequencing is ongoing today to determine the strain causing the illnesses.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
The camp was rife with illnesses, including cholera, and Ibrahim became severely sick.
—Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
The disparities also extended to preventable deaths before age 75, including deaths tied to drug overdoses, car crashes and treatable illnesses.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
The Cavs are dealing with some illnesses.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Medical marijuana is only available to Georgians with approval from a physician to treat severe illnesses, including seizures, terminal cancers, Parkinson's disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 13 May 2026
So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the powdered milk recall.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 13 May 2026
Leapfrog evaluates hospital safety based on the prevention of medical errors, illnesses, injuries and infections.
—Eva Flowe
may 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
-
Fungal infections, leaf spot diseases, scale insects, and spider mites are among the most common culprits.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
August is when the season begins to ebb, with fewer nymphs around and eggs hatching larvae that are largely free of diseases.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Olena started with the children, the most vulnerable refugees as well as the most likely vectors of new sicknesses in the theater.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
-
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chambers grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, which has become something of a poster-child of the ills of deindustrialization.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
19 May 2026
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ebola is tricky to clinically diagnose because symptoms at early stage of the disease are similar to other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
-
At first, hantavirus can feel like the flu, with patients suffering from fatigue, fevers, chills and aches.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Though conditions are more acute in Myanmar due to the civil war, experts warn the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz could also dent rice production across the region – with potentially huge shocks for food security.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
16 May 2026
-
Fire agencies across the North Bay are preparing for elevated wildfire danger this weekend as forecasters warn of strong winds and low humidity - conditions that often signal the start of fire season in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin counties.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
