SENILE Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

senile

adjective

Definition of senile

as in elderly

showing a loss of mental ability (such as memory) in old age a senile man in his eighties Her mother is becoming senile.

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of senile Billy Chapman is again introduced as a child (Logan Sawyer) visiting his senile grandpa in a rest home. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Dec. 2025 The kids can’t spell and the world leaders are senile. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025 Back on the domestic front, Jeanine has reason to believe that her husband, Paul (Mark O’Brien), is having an affair with her senile mother’s caregiver. — Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023 Don Quixote himself is too often a senile dodderer; Daniel Rubin was creaky in body but youthfully quixotic in spirit. — Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for senile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for senile

Adjective

Shown from above, the camera steadily encroaching like the angel of death itself, is an elderly woman in a hospital bed.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Wilver Blanco, 42, was shot in 2024 after police responded to a report of man seen chasing an elderly man around with a knife, possibly while under the influence of drugs.

— Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of elderly

Adjective

The 30-year-old actress, who was named the Chinese brand ambassador for Kors last March, made her acting debut at 10 and has played numerous roles in historical, fantasy and romantic dramas.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
The backstory Wynn Las Vegas opened in 2005 on the site of the old Desert Inn, with Encore following in 2008; the big move was pulling spectacle inside instead of giving it away free at the curb.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of old

Adjective

Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm’s senior vice president of wearables, believes AI use is likely to be experienced through a myriad of devices.

— Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
In other cases, two senior anti-Balaka leaders were convicted in July 2025 on multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026