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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladies
Noun
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But sulfate aerosol pollution is also a serious health hazard, blamed for about 8 million human deaths per year from lung diseases.—
Michael Wysession,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
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Timing for Fertilizing Roses Healthy repeat-blooming roses require nearly year-round feeding from early spring to fall to remain vigorous and resist diseases.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The complaint states Geter Pinder suffers from severe emotional distress, anxiety, paranoia about her safety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other ailments.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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The complaint states Geter Pinder suffers from severe emotional distress, anxiety, paranoia about her safety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments.—
Abby Dodge,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Diarrhea and other intestinal illnesses can cost owners $863 at the veterinarian each visit, according to Nationwide.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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Like other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, HMPV spreads and is more durable in colder temperatures, infectious-disease experts say.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Faced with high rates of suicide and other ills such as addiction, corrections officers have long been concerned about the stress and violence of their jobs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Reform’s pitch to voters is that, for many of these ills, mass immigration is to blame.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 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 13 Mar. 2026.
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