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
Members of the Artemis II crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — are starting their roughly two-week quarantine to limit their exposure to illnesses before their flight.
—
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Now that a successful prelaunch fueling test has been completed, the astronauts are due to re-enter quarantine at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to avoid exposure to any illnesses.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The program is one of several that Mama’s Kitchen offers for San Diego residents with HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and other critical illnesses.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The researchers accounted for common chronic conditions that can raise dementia risk — including hypertension, stroke and depression — to see whether those illnesses helped explain the link between pollution and Alzheimer’s disease.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Even the smallest black dot of mold can affect your health by causing respiratory illnesses or triggering certain allergic reactions from breathing it in constantly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
In older adults or those with other illnesses, the symptoms may not be typical, which is why maintaining awareness of risk factors is critical.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
It will be measured in preventable illnesses, infant respiratory deaths that could have been avoided, and the diminished preparedness of a nation that has forgotten how to value the very innovation that once saved it.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Proceeds from the sale will go to Project Fire Buddies, a nonprofit through which firefighters offer support to children battling critical illnesses.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 20 Feb. 2026
Now that a successful prelaunch fueling test has been completed, the astronauts are due to re-enter quarantine at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to avoid exposure to any illnesses.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
The program is one of several that Mama’s Kitchen offers for San Diego residents with HIV, cancer, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and other critical illnesses.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
The researchers accounted for common chronic conditions that can raise dementia risk — including hypertension, stroke and depression — to see whether those illnesses helped explain the link between pollution and Alzheimer’s disease.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Even the smallest black dot of mold can affect your health by causing respiratory illnesses or triggering certain allergic reactions from breathing it in constantly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2026
In older adults or those with other illnesses, the symptoms may not be typical, which is why maintaining awareness of risk factors is critical.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
It will be measured in preventable illnesses, infant respiratory deaths that could have been avoided, and the diminished preparedness of a nation that has forgotten how to value the very innovation that once saved it.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026
Proceeds from the sale will go to Project Fire Buddies, a nonprofit through which firefighters offer support to children battling critical illnesses.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illnesses
Noun
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This exam enables the doctor to detect early signs of these diseases and prescribe appropriate treatments at their earliest stages.—
Mark Ryan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
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Dane went on to advocate for legislation addressing research on neurodegenerative diseases.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The building had many ailments, and the landlord seemed intent on doing as little as possible about them.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
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Loan defaults, foreclosures, and hotel property auctions due to distressed financing show that an array of ailments afflict the region’s lodging market.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From the moment the kids set foot back at school in the fall, until some time around spring break, parents can expect sicknesses to take over their homes faster than the latest viral slang expression.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
10 Jan. 2026
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And among parents, the fear of illnesses like polio, measles and other sicknesses were always present.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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For all its ills, social media can also be an entry point for anyone interested in Chicago history and the city’s varied eccentricities.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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The conductor added that opera not only reveals societal ills but can model what an ideal society can look like.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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On the other hand, fevers, arm soreness, and other side effects of routine vaccination are quite visible to individual clinicians.—
Robert M. Califf,
STAT,
6 Feb. 2026
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Born healthy, Shiloh thrived through infancy until, around 18 months, unexplained fevers began to appear.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Poor weather and battlefield obscurants continue to endanger warfighters as adversaries rely on these conditions to escape attacks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
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Weather is transient by its very nature — a similar weather pattern might affect an environment differently depending on the preexisting conditions — and comprehensive datasets aren’t really available.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Illnesses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illnesses. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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