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
Consumption of food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses.
—
Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 May 2026
But illnesses in other states could be possible, CDC officials added.
—Jonel Aleccia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Some people, especially children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
Ticks can cause illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Now, dairy products account for about 1% of such illnesses.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
The Philadelphia 76ers center has dealt with a shocking amount of bad luck during his playoff career in particular, suffering injuries ranging from illnesses to an orbital fracture to Bell’s palsy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Miyahara is the president and CEO of the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, and Morales-Roth is executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation, a nonprofit that supports children facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Crawling the walls Orson Welles learned to draw from his mother, who informally homeschooled the budding artist during his childhood, which was marked by grave illnesses including malaria and diphtheria.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Greta Cross, USA Today, 1 May 2026
But illnesses in other states could be possible, CDC officials added.
—Jonel Aleccia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Some people, especially children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 30 Apr. 2026
Ticks can cause illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Now, dairy products account for about 1% of such illnesses.
—Laura Ungar, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
The Philadelphia 76ers center has dealt with a shocking amount of bad luck during his playoff career in particular, suffering injuries ranging from illnesses to an orbital fracture to Bell’s palsy.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026
Miyahara is the president and CEO of the San Diego Community Housing Corporation, and Morales-Roth is executive director of the Emilio Nares Foundation, a nonprofit that supports children facing cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Crawling the walls Orson Welles learned to draw from his mother, who informally homeschooled the budding artist during his childhood, which was marked by grave illnesses including malaria and diphtheria.
—Michelle Duncan, Architectural Digest, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
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Taking them to their natural habitat in Africa isn’t feasible, given their limited gene pool and chance of carrying diseases.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
1 May 2026
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Inspect regularly for pests and diseases.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
Noun
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More players, including goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, continue to work their way back from various ailments.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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A lot of issues came up in this week’s debate, but interestingly enough, the ailments affecting the entertainment industry and workers here in Southern California and throughout the state did not come up.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The symptoms of our darkest cultural sicknesses become visible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
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And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The condition can cause pain, infections and fevers.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In addition to fevers and continuous, watery diarrhea, rotavirus symptoms in babies and children can also include loss of appetite and dehydration, per the NFID.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties may hear the booms, depending on weather and other conditions, SpaceX said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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But county documents also detail conditions the project should meet to address impacts, including designing buildings to dampen sound and adding landscape buffers.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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