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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In the 1940s, the widespread use of penicillin allowed for the treatment of diseases that were once fatal.
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Minerals such as calcium, manganese, and fluoride support bone health, helping to prevent or manage diseases like arthritis and osteoporosis.
Noun
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The women wanted physicians who were disease preventers, and doctors who were attentive to the difficulties wrought by menopause, which have been increasingly found to leave women vulnerable to other ailments.
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Peterson had a chaotic lone season with the Jayhawks, filled with various injuries and ailments, but remained in contention for a top-3 pick the entire year.
Noun
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Oura rings are beloved for their ability to track steps, monitor sleep, and even catch illnesses before symptoms begin.
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Older adults and young children are most sensitive to extreme heat, as are people who are pregnant, overweight, have disabilities or chronic illnesses.
Noun
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Around the country, data centers have been blamed increasingly for a host of environmental ills.
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That’s actually the theme of an essay that Masha Gessen, who writes often about Russia and its many ills, has asked.
Noun
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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.
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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.
Noun
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Then anaplasmosis joined the fray, spreading fevers and chills of its own.
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The worst is over—the fevers have broken, the tissues have dwindled, and everyone is slowly regaining their energy.
Cite this Entry
“Infirmities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmities. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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