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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infirmity
Frazier, despite his own infirmities, took pride in the idea that his blows in Manila had contributed to Ali’s Parkinson’s—or even caused it—going so far as to gloat about the possibility on the outgoing voicemail message for his cellphone.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The young men naturally start out strongly, but exhaustion, physical infirmities and psychological stress eventually take their toll on them one by one.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The governor skillfully countered attacks from Republicans and conservative media regarding Biden’s mental infirmity and physical limitations.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Some blame reporters defending Biden’s obvious infirmity rather than reporting the hard facts.
—Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The young men naturally start out strongly, but exhaustion, physical infirmities and psychological stress eventually take their toll on them one by one.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The governor skillfully countered attacks from Republicans and conservative media regarding Biden’s mental infirmity and physical limitations.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Some blame reporters defending Biden’s obvious infirmity rather than reporting the hard facts.
—Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmity
Noun
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Used since the 1950s to make consumer products nonstick, oil- and water-repellent, and resistant to temperature change, PFAS chemicals have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, fertility issues, high cholesterol, hormone disruption, liver damage, obesity and thyroid disease.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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The risk is higher in some people, such as smokers older than 35 or those who have multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors.—
ALI SWENSON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Trump claimed sweeping victories on crime and border security despite political weakness and record-low approval ratings.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement On social media, people describe suffering from a range of side effects after experimenting with unapproved peptides, including migraines, weakness, depression, nausea and vomiting, and anhedonia, a condition in which people stop being able to experience joy or pleasure.—
Dominique Mosbergen,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Too conveniently, Mary is pushed off-stage with a sudden terminal illness, which enables Becket to take his rightful place in the narrative.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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Kerr had no update on Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed the past two games with an unspecified illness.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The consequences of the fund’s exhaustion in 2040 would be severe for both seniors and health care providers.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
No bearish divergence, no exhaustion.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Emma Operacz Operacz was treated and discharged again, but infections, migraines and other ailments kept bringing her back.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Devers, 29, dealt with back and groin ailments last season but still managed to play 163 games, a neat byproduct of the midseason trade that sent him from the Boston Red Sox to San Francisco.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When hair endures damage from styling treatments, color, or heat, the hair’s keratin composition can be compromised, leading to feebleness and a greater risk of breakage.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Faced with high rates of suicide and other ills such as addiction, corrections officers have long been concerned about the stress and violence of their jobs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Reform’s pitch to voters is that, for many of these ills, mass immigration is to blame.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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