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
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Example Sentences
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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
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
Noun
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The active season for tick diseases is also expanding.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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An investigation revealed that the horse was suffering from multiple diseases and was a decade older than his driver had initially reported, according to the organization.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Raw dairy, his farm has claimed, could cure, treat or prevent myriad diseases and ailments, from diabetes and ear infections to allergies, eczema and arthritis.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Vivi Sanchez Salinas with MiSalud, a nonprofit that contracts with farms to offer counseling services, said the stress of potential immigration enforcement may hamper productivity and show up in the form of physical ailments, for example, trouble sleeping, stomach issues and headaches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Noun
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As of June 18, one death was linked to the cheese products, in addition to eight hospitalizations and nine illnesses, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall report.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
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But these few species are devastating, causing some 700 million illnesses and 1 million deaths globally each year due to infections like malaria, dengue fever, Zika and West Nile virus.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Noun
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On this near-ideal night, all the ills of the past few years faded away, and an era — or at least a month — of real ambition began.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
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Ultimately, a ballot initiative won’t cure the ills that plague healthcare in the United States, said the Lown Institute’s Saini.—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Olena started with the children, the most vulnerable refugees as well as the most likely vectors of new sicknesses in the theater.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For example, the prescription offered by those who saw a generally healthy way of life as the right way to prevent disease helped propel cleaning up the filthy cities of the Industrial Revolution—and that really did reduce the impact of common fevers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Amir suffered fevers and stomach issues during his incarceration at Dilley, according to the report.—
Joseph Konig,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infirmities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmities. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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