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
In one story, Earn’s seemingly routine trip to church with Gloria, Jeanie, and his senile grandfather (Bob Banks) goes pear-shaped when Gloria abruptly drives off with her dad, leaving behind Earn and a bewildered Jeanie, who has recently been their father’s caretaker.
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Why do humans develop senile ovaries by age 30?
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
The sky broken by the bare oaks and elms of New Prospect was full of moist promise, a pair of frontal systems grayly colluding to deliver a white Christmas, when Russ Hildebrandt made his morning rounds among the homes of bedridden and senile parishioners in his Plymouth Fury wagon.
—Wyatt Mason, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for senile
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2022
Why do humans develop senile ovaries by age 30?
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022
Trump regularly claimed during the 2020 campaign that Biden was senile.
—Dallas News, 9 Feb. 2022
The sky broken by the bare oaks and elms of New Prospect was full of moist promise, a pair of frontal systems grayly colluding to deliver a white Christmas, when Russ Hildebrandt made his morning rounds among the homes of bedridden and senile parishioners in his Plymouth Fury wagon.
—Wyatt Mason, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021
See All Example Sentences for senile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for senile
Adjective
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The Cudahy couple purchased the building in South Milwaukee primarily for the living space in back to take care of an elderly uncle.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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For millions of elderly or disabled people, these were daunting or impossible options.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Amid the album's release, Justin shared several clips and photos on Instagram of billboards and projections in various locations around the world featuring a photo with his 1-year-old son Jack Blues, and himself and his wife, 28, with the little one.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So far this decade — according to Brian McNoldy, a senior research associate at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science — the number of days that lows failed to dip below 80 degrees has already doubled compared to the 2000’s.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Although the recognition of other countries is also a key component of obtaining statehood, any Palestinian state established today would not meet the minimal criteria, according to Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute.—
Michele Chabin,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Senile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/senile. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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