Thesaurus results for ILLNESSES

illnesses

noun

plural of illness

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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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 Many of the chihuahuas are emaciated and have varying illnesses, fleas and other medical concerns, according to Humane Indiana staff. — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Lenders, and borrowers, care whether a mortgage can remain affordable through job changes, slowdowns, illnesses or other disruptions. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 Salmonella outbreak linked to tainted jalapeños isn’t over The CDC reported more than 400 cases in 32 states, although the number of illnesses is likely to be much higher. — Jane Weaver, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2026 The risk of serious illness for most people is low, but some individuals can develop serious neurologic illnesses, such as encephalitis or meningitis, which are potentially fatal. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 This postpandemic decline in both figures leaves some communities vulnerable and could help fuel the resurgence of preventable illnesses such as measles. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026 The same men who would never hesitate to seek treatment for a cardiac condition, a broken bone, or diabetes, frequently resist treatment for illnesses affecting the brain. — Rachel Docekal, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026 Khanna said medical costs remain a major source of financial insecurity, particularly for Americans diagnosed with serious illnesses. — Kiara Moore, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026 Such interviews revealed that 95 percent had eaten at a Mexican-style restaurant like Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA before their illnesses. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses

Noun

Regularly cleaning and sanitizing your gardening tools will help prevent the spread of plant diseases.

— The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
West Nile virus is the most common of the diseases transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.

— Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of diseases

Noun

Typically, those ailments — think flu and respiratory syncytial virus — spike in the winter, and aren’t really seen outside of that season.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Medics treat heat stroke and other ailments from trailers while an announcer calls out an endless stream of names of people separated from their families.

— Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailments

Noun

And while children, the elderly and those with certain sicknesses or medications are most susceptible to heat illness – these temperatures affect everyone.

— Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
At the end of the day, both doctors agree that hotel stays shouldn’t deter people from traveling altogether, since there are always ways to proactively minimize exposure and subsequent sicknesses.

— Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026

Definition of sicknesses

Noun

Alex Pantling/Getty Images What is clear is that no one thinks the changes enacted in either the Championship or League One are a resolution to the EFL’s marked financial ills.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments.

— Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026

Definition of ills

Noun

Speaking to the Guardian, Florida State University marine biologist Dean Grubbs noted that large fevers of cownose rays historically only went as far as the Chesapeake Bay, with just a few individuals observed farther north.

— Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Still's disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause rashes, debilitating pain, and fevers.

— Rachana Pradhan, NPR, 20 July 2026

Definition of fevers

Noun

The fact a majority of them belong to people who traveled from another country and the conditions of the desert itself both complicate efforts to identify remains, therefore hindering missing persons cases, experts say.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Relatives of sailors on board the carrier have described reports of deteriorating conditions and morale.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of conditions

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illness

illnesses

illogic

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“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of illnesses

noun

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