1
as in disease
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
a period of infirmity left the athlete completely out of shape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infirmity
Their income is limited, because of age or infirmity.
—
Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
As if my sudden turn to sedentariness were the result of indolence, not infirmity.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Humor savors an infirmity — a foible, a failing, a venality, a flaw.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
For instance, a man with a 38-year infirmity was convinced he could be freed only by entering a pool of supposedly healing waters.
—Beverly Peake, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Nov. 2025
As if my sudden turn to sedentariness were the result of indolence, not infirmity.
—Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Humor savors an infirmity — a foible, a failing, a venality, a flaw.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
For instance, a man with a 38-year infirmity was convinced he could be freed only by entering a pool of supposedly healing waters.
—Beverly Peake, Christian Science Monitor, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmity
Noun
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Over time, however, the disease has spread across the East Coast and Midwest, with diagnoses reaching 35 states.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
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In later life, this formative programming can increase the risk of not only mental illnesses like depression, but physical diseases too, such as cancer and obesity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Rippling was also built with a stronger emphasis on operational infrastructure and compliance, according to Conrad, who has said that one of the weaknesses at Zenefits was that a lot was done manually behind the scenes.—
Ellen Sheng,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Brunson’s defense and the lack of rim protection from Towns remain weaknesses, but nobody has come close to exploiting them so far.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Noun
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Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can result in serious illness and death in birds and mammals.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The result can appear not only as exhaustion, but also irritability, decreased concentration, emotional numbing, sleep disruption, and heightened anxiety.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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Korkosz said the challenge is not only violence, but exhaustion.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
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The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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As Kasubhai observed, despite its legal feebleness, Kennedy’s declaration and its explicit threat has had a concrete impact on the provision of gender-affirming services to American youths.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Signs of disease include warts on legs, crusty or swollen eyes, feebleness, a ruffled appearance, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, and diarrhea.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
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And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His trajectory is one of softening, from the swaggering knight of the opening to the irrepressible lover of the second act to his final physical debility.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
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In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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