as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
in the olden days people were always suffering from some unknown malady
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Recent Examples of maladies
Simmons also argued that medical tests would show that Chen’s maladies are not consistent with drinking Drano, but are more likely from acid reflux.
—
City News Service, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Her friends would deal with maladies as diverse as pill addiction and demonic possession.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
One of the oddest maladies of our current TV era has been a desensitization to Nicole Kidman.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
DeGrom a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also has had surgery on his ulnar nerve in his elbow and missed time due to forearm tightness, among other maladies.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
But those maladies have nothing against the ones presented in this list—six afflictions that many of us have come to know all too well.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Musgrove’s history of performing well and working through maladies bolsters the Padres’ confidence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The maladies also come at a time in Cleveland’s schedule where some of its more notable matchups are coming up quite soon.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
As hotel values in 2025 rose in Southern California, a slump in Northern California showed a decline that suggests the market remains weighed down by a host of economic maladies, a new report shows.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
City News Service, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Her friends would deal with maladies as diverse as pill addiction and demonic possession.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
One of the oddest maladies of our current TV era has been a desensitization to Nicole Kidman.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026
DeGrom a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also has had surgery on his ulnar nerve in his elbow and missed time due to forearm tightness, among other maladies.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026
But those maladies have nothing against the ones presented in this list—six afflictions that many of us have come to know all too well.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Musgrove’s history of performing well and working through maladies bolsters the Padres’ confidence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
The maladies also come at a time in Cleveland’s schedule where some of its more notable matchups are coming up quite soon.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
As hotel values in 2025 rose in Southern California, a slump in Northern California showed a decline that suggests the market remains weighed down by a host of economic maladies, a new report shows.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
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Any time people from around the world gather together, the risk of certain diseases goes up.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 June 2026
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Water shortages, limited hygiene and extreme heat and humidity continue to accelerate the spread of these diseases.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
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While every ceremonial facilitator has their own unique way of preparing ayahuasca, most often two plants are brewed together (caapi vine and chacruna leaves) to create the highly powerful, transportive substance that can be used to treat physical and mental ailments.—
Michaela Trimble,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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Tabbed a Colts starter as a rookie, hamstring and quadriceps ailments shut him down halfway through that initial professional campaign.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
5 June 2026
Noun
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Officials with Connecticut’s mosquito management program are hard at work setting up traps and collecting mosquitoes for the presence of viruses that can cause illnesses in people, including West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
12 June 2026
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Rats transmit diseases through urine and waste, causing fever and other illnesses.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Many Barcelona residents feel the Sagrada Familia's fame has driven some of overtourism's worst ills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 June 2026
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Charli isn’t pretending the world’s ills are curable through a sweaty night dancing with friends.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 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
Cite this Entry
“Maladies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladies. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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