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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
The research accounted for reduced availability of key nutrients in seafood, including calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein and iron -- the loss of which can be linked to increases in disease risk and additional deaths.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Crown rot is a disease where fungi or bacteria attack the base of the plant near the soil line.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If the Nasdaq 100 sees further weakness ahead of megacap technology companies’ earnings, the QQQ could rapidly slide to about 580, according to Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets.—
Sean Conlon,
CNBC,
20 Jan. 2026
-
In theory, that weakness could be an opening for a president to muscle Congress into codifying parts of his agenda.—
Yuval Levin,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Here's what to know about the mysterious illness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Without antibiotic treatment, the disease can lead to serious illness, including kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis and difficulty breathing.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Continual self-sacrifice increases the risk of emotional exhaustion, resentment and loss of self-clarity.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Understanding trees as living archives of human breath exhaled in joy, sorrow, elation or exhaustion is deeply meaningful for me.—
Beronda L. Montgomery,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring ailment, was present.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As a result of her work with AMRs, Wise avoids framing humanoids as some sort of industrial panacea for every economic ill, from labor shortages to manufacturing bottlenecks.—
James Vincent,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
Noun
-
From the moment the kids set foot back at school in the fall, until some time around spring break, parents can expect sicknesses to take over their homes faster than the latest viral slang expression.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The leading causes of harm to the whales are linked to human interference; entanglements in fishing gear and boat and ship collisions have resulted in significant increases in sickness, injury, and death.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
