1
as in illness
the condition of not being in good health
she was plagued by sickness most of her adult life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant or animal's normal bodily functioning
a sickness that resulted in the death of millions of the nation's elm trees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nausea
a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting
the sickness that many women feel during the early months of a pregnancy
Synonyms & Similar 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 sickness
City officials did not immediately respond to a question Thursday afternoon about whether any bacterial sickness in humans had been reported.
—
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The turmoil within the Star Wars fandom, in Carano’s telling, is a microcosm of a broader sickness.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sickness
Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
The turmoil within the Star Wars fandom, in Carano’s telling, is a microcosm of a broader sickness.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sickness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickness
Noun
-
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can result in serious illness and death in birds and mammals.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported new hantavirus cases in Spain and France, drawing attention to the rare but potentially severe disease, which can cause serious respiratory complications in humans.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
People with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or colitis may not tolerate high-fiber meals as well and sometimes require a lower-fiber approach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Illness or infection Chronic stress Poor sleep When that imbalance happens, symptoms can include bloating, gas, nausea, abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel movements, according to UMass Memorial Health.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
-
Symptoms may include bloating, gas, nausea, abdominal discomfort and changes in bowel movements, according to UMass Memorial Health.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and internal bleeding.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Ebloa is treated through IV fluids and other medicine for blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and pain.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickness. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
