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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of maladies
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
Thomas said he’s spoken with a few other players who have dealt with similar maladies, including Carlos Correa and Harrison Bader.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Minze Health, a developer of digital diagnostic and therapeutic devices for urology maladies, announced Thomas Moore as president and chief executive officer, based in the Twin Cities.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
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
Thomas said he’s spoken with a few other players who have dealt with similar maladies, including Carlos Correa and Harrison Bader.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Minze Health, a developer of digital diagnostic and therapeutic devices for urology maladies, announced Thomas Moore as president and chief executive officer, based in the Twin Cities.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
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If your plants were plagued by pests or diseases during the growing season, leaving diseased plant debris in your garden allows problems to overwinter and reinfect your plants in spring.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
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When making cuts, prune at a 45-degree angle to help water run off and prevent diseases.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Later, the state spent $6 million to seal the brick building, after state workers complained of respiratory ailments and asthma.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
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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
Noun
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That’s different that the crisis caused when formula produced by Abbott was linked to infant deaths and illnesses in 2022.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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For less severe illnesses, people will usually recover with rest and hydration.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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Despite so many errors, The Information is now the paper of record on the ills of Nvidia.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
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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
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Pathogens in human poop can remain active for a long time – over a year in outdoor environments – meaning that waste left behind today can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and other sicknesses for future visitors.—
B. Derrick Taff,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maladies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladies. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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