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
The hotel industry’s woes are a reminder that significant segments of the Bay Area economy have yet to fully recover from the after-effects of the maladies unleashed by the coronavirus outbreak.
—
George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Relying on medications as front-line, first-choice solutions for today’s major maladies ignores two alternative approaches that may more effectively address our most common conditions.
—Thomas Goetz, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
Since being diagnosed with a number of maladies over the years, including hypothyroidism, leaky gut and a gluten intolerance, McCarthy has been on a quest to put better things not only in her body but on her body.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
To paraphrase Tolstoy, all stable liberal democracies have a family resemblance; all failing dictatorships have maladies of their own.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Previously, skeptics have argued that China’s regime would be toppled, or its economic growth torpedoed, by a variety of maladies—public backlash in response to repressive COVID-19 policies, for example, or the costs of mitigating environmental devastation.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
And the Sea Lions have dealt with a number of maladies, most recently a hamstring injury to Langford.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
This work transformed me and healed me of many modern maladies.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Curing these maladies is a delicate task, with a set of tools and potions to match.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Relying on medications as front-line, first-choice solutions for today’s major maladies ignores two alternative approaches that may more effectively address our most common conditions.
—Thomas Goetz, STAT, 8 Jan. 2026
Since being diagnosed with a number of maladies over the years, including hypothyroidism, leaky gut and a gluten intolerance, McCarthy has been on a quest to put better things not only in her body but on her body.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
To paraphrase Tolstoy, all stable liberal democracies have a family resemblance; all failing dictatorships have maladies of their own.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Previously, skeptics have argued that China’s regime would be toppled, or its economic growth torpedoed, by a variety of maladies—public backlash in response to repressive COVID-19 policies, for example, or the costs of mitigating environmental devastation.
—Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025
And the Sea Lions have dealt with a number of maladies, most recently a hamstring injury to Langford.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025
This work transformed me and healed me of many modern maladies.
—Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
Curing these maladies is a delicate task, with a set of tools and potions to match.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
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The development of antibiotics, vaccines and advanced surgical techniques has virtually eliminated many diseases that once killed thousands annually.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
McLaughlin said the company chose to focus on these diseases partly because of their outsized impact on patients.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Galen concocted medicines that seem strange to modern ears, such as treating ailments like inflammation with feces sprinkled with thyme to mask the odor.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In recent years Foege battled multiple health ailments, including cancer, congestive heart failure, gout, and a terrible case of shingles.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Washing bananas helps prevent fruit flies and reduces your risk of any illnesses.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
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No illnesses linked to products in this recall have been reported to date.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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During the 1980s, both tabloids pandered to the racial resentments and fears of white New Yorkers when covering all of the city’s ills.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Winning tends to cure a lot of ills, and the Hornets hit the road this week with two recent home victories to their credit.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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And among parents, the fear of illnesses like polio, measles and other sicknesses were always present.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maladies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladies. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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