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
  • Animal diseases also threaten our economy and food system, destroying more than 20% of global livestock production each year.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The couple created the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization whose efforts include curing, managing and preventing all diseases.
    — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • The campaign is unfolding as the city contends with myriad urban ailments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Running backs Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley also are dealing with ailments, while offensive lineman Lane Johnson surprised everyone with his retirement mid-season.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailments
Noun
  • Medical schools employ people to portray patients with specific symptoms, emotional reactions and medical histories, giving students a chance to practice everything from diagnosing illnesses to delivering difficult news.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • There were many individuals who appeared before me who had chronic illnesses.
    — Annie Nova, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of illnesses
Noun
  • 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
  • Now, in The Social Reckoning, Sorkin focuses on the ills of the company Facebook eventually became.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 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
  • Medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can safely reduce body temperature, though acetaminophen is usually the better choice for fevers.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The high fevers brought on by listeria can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women who are infected.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of fevers

Browse Nearby Words

infirmary
infirmities
infirmity
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Cite this Entry

“Infirmities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmities. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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