infirmities

noun

plural of infirmity
as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning an 18th-century quack who specialized in those mysterious infirmities that are known only to the idle rich

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 infirmities Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said protecting elderly people from predators who take advantage of their mental or physical infirmities is a priority of her office. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Because of his infirmities, he is housed in a medical unit of the jail, away from the general population. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmities
  1. diseases
  2. ailments
  3. illnesses
  4. ills
  5. sicknesses
  6. fevers
Noun
  • On the earnings call, CEO Jason Hollar said the Pharma business benefited from strong unit demand for both generic medications and specialty therapeutics (treatments for cancer, as well as urological, kidney and autoimmune diseases).
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, children faced countless diseases like rickets, which prevents developing skeletons from adequately mineralizing.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • In these regions, the predominant ailments are HIV/AIDS, premature birth and birth trauma, congenital anomalies and injuries.
    — Emilee Flynn, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Some may find the value to be limited, especially if their dog or cat breed is younger or less predisposed to suffer from medical issues or ailments.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of ailments
Noun
  • These cases often involve unusual illnesses that challenge even experienced physicians.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Some developed psychological illnesses or died within a few years from physical ailments.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of illnesses
Noun
  • Humor and/or wit feature in your work to address serious issues of the heart or to comment on the socio-political ills of the world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Hilton has blasted Becerra as taking the state’s voters for granted, failing to hold public campaign events to explain his detailed plans to address California’s many ills.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of ills
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
  • The Bundibugyo virus comes from the same family as the Ebola virus that caused the 2014 West Africa and 2018 Congo epidemics, causing the fatal fevers associated with Ebola.
    — Ananya Rupanagunta, Vox, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Listeria’s high fevers can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fevers

Browse Nearby Words

infirmary
infirmities
infirmity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infirmities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmities. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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