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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Recent Examples of senile
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
But Benjamin Smith, a professor of Latin American history at the University of Warwick in Britain, said the tweet could further fuel ongoing rumors that López Obrador, 69, is senile or otherwise unfit to govern.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
In the Kremlin’s propaganda, Biden is now invariably portrayed as senile, sleepy and out of touch.
—David E. Sanger, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for senile
Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Mar. 2023
But Benjamin Smith, a professor of Latin American history at the University of Warwick in Britain, said the tweet could further fuel ongoing rumors that López Obrador, 69, is senile or otherwise unfit to govern.
—Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
In the Kremlin’s propaganda, Biden is now invariably portrayed as senile, sleepy and out of touch.
—David E. Sanger, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Feb. 2023
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for senile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senile
Adjective
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Check in on people without air conditioning, as well as any elderly relatives and neighbors.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2025
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Seven others were injured, including a 17-year-old and an elderly woman.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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The departing older president, the incoming younger Kennedy.—
Dr. Richard Fichman,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
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While older South Koreans remain most at risk, suicide is now the leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 39.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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The Celtics, among other teams with late first-round picks, have had Creighton senior center Ryan Kalkbrenner in for a workout.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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Seminole Ridge senior receiver Lola Agosto and sophomore quarterback Aubrey Fogel had a special connection throughout the season to lead the Hawks to a Class 3A state championship and they were recognized as the Sun Sentinel’s Palm Beach flag football co-players of the year.—
Alex Kushel,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Senile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senile. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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