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
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Recent Examples of illnesses
As of June 18, one death was linked to the cheese products, in addition to eight hospitalizations and nine illnesses, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall report.
—
Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 June 2026
But these few species are devastating, causing some 700 million illnesses and 1 million deaths globally each year due to infections like malaria, dengue fever, Zika and West Nile virus.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Many get clear diagnoses and begin treatment, but a small subset of pediatric visitors with rare illnesses never get diagnoses at all.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 18 June 2026
At just 3 months old, Josie had a string of illnesses – RSV, pneumonia and the flu.
—Jan Carabeo, CBS News, 17 June 2026
While norovirus often gets the most attention on cruise ships, experts say respiratory illnesses can be just as common.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Officials with Connecticut’s mosquito management program are hard at work setting up traps and collecting mosquitoes for the presence of viruses that can cause illnesses in people, including West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Rats transmit diseases through urine and waste, causing fever and other illnesses.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 12 June 2026
Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Greta Cross, USA Today, 19 June 2026
But these few species are devastating, causing some 700 million illnesses and 1 million deaths globally each year due to infections like malaria, dengue fever, Zika and West Nile virus.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Many get clear diagnoses and begin treatment, but a small subset of pediatric visitors with rare illnesses never get diagnoses at all.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 18 June 2026
At just 3 months old, Josie had a string of illnesses – RSV, pneumonia and the flu.
—Jan Carabeo, CBS News, 17 June 2026
While norovirus often gets the most attention on cruise ships, experts say respiratory illnesses can be just as common.
—Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Officials with Connecticut’s mosquito management program are hard at work setting up traps and collecting mosquitoes for the presence of viruses that can cause illnesses in people, including West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
Rats transmit diseases through urine and waste, causing fever and other illnesses.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 12 June 2026
Some mosquitoes can spread dengue, Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus and other illnesses.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
-
The active season for tick diseases is also expanding.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
An investigation revealed that the horse was suffering from multiple diseases and was a decade older than his driver had initially reported, according to the organization.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Scientists are particularly concerned about microplastics, bits no larger than a grain of rice that could trigger heart and brain diseases and other ailments, either by their mere presence in people or from toxic chemicals leaching out of the particles.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
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Interest in kratom surged in the last couple of years as users have reported consuming the compound in the form of a pill, powder or tea to treat various ailments.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
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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
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The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On this near-ideal night, all the ills of the past few years faded away, and an era — or at least a month — of real ambition began.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
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Ultimately, a ballot initiative won’t cure the ills that plague healthcare in the United States, said the Lown Institute’s Saini.—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
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For example, the prescription offered by those who saw a generally healthy way of life as the right way to prevent disease helped propel cleaning up the filthy cities of the Industrial Revolution—and that really did reduce the impact of common fevers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Amir suffered fevers and stomach issues during his incarceration at Dilley, according to the report.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Noun
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The dry conditions have also created high fire danger in parts of the state.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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Fossil fuel emissions are drivers of climate change and linked to a range of health conditions, including asthma, various cancers and birth defects.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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