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
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
Yet after three straight seasons with identical point totals, 41 apiece, Strome had played in just over half the team’s games this year between injuries, illness and healthy scratches peppered into that mix of maladies.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 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
More marketers of health and wellness products and services came to the Super Bowl to tout weight loss pills, telehealth services and even getting consumers to take tests that might identify potential maladies.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
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
Yet after three straight seasons with identical point totals, 41 apiece, Strome had played in just over half the team’s games this year between injuries, illness and healthy scratches peppered into that mix of maladies.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 7 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
More marketers of health and wellness products and services came to the Super Bowl to tout weight loss pills, telehealth services and even getting consumers to take tests that might identify potential maladies.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
-
Snakes help control rodent and insect populations, reducing the spread of diseases like Lyme disease.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Instead of a withering blast that annihilates you instantly, the real killer would be a highly elevated risk of cancer and degenerative diseases over time.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
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This could help explain why hormonal birth control is so often prescribed for dozens of ailments—including painful periods, fibroids, and PCOS—that have few other effective treatments.—
Andréa Becker,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
-
Plus, the sandals have a thick leather strap that provides a pillowy cushion around the top of the foot, which is helpful for anyone with foot ailments.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
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What illnesses are currently trending in Boise?—
Hali Smith
May 8,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
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According to Mitchell, the San Marcos Police Department is investigating the students’ illnesses, and the staff member who sold the cookies to students was removed from the district.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
8 May 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
-
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The symptoms of our darkest cultural sicknesses become visible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maladies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladies. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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