1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
suffered from a mysterious illness that left her weak and tired all the time
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sickness
the condition of not being in good health
prone to illness as a child, he was sent to a western ranch with the expectation that it would toughen him up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of illness
In 1976, the disease detectives were sent to investigate an outbreak in Philadelphia of a mysterious deadly illness.
—
Casey Luc, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Vaccines are among the most successful tools in the public health arsenal, preventing debilitating illnesses and lowering the need for expensive medical care.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Depression is an illness that can impact anyone, regardless of age, race, cultural background, education or income, per the NIH.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
But this type of bacteria can also cause more serious illnesses—even flesh-eating infections.
—Alice Park, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illness
Casey Luc, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
Vaccines are among the most successful tools in the public health arsenal, preventing debilitating illnesses and lowering the need for expensive medical care.
—Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Depression is an illness that can impact anyone, regardless of age, race, cultural background, education or income, per the NIH.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2025
But this type of bacteria can also cause more serious illnesses—even flesh-eating infections.
—Alice Park, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illness
Noun
-
However, in the U.S., the CDC has concluded there is no evidence that pesticides are effective in preventing these diseases and does not recommend this practice.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The Harmattan facilitates the spread of diseases, such as influenza.—
Christophe Lavaysse,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That sickness is caused by a virus typically spread by rats and mice.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
-
And how people can like this guy is— that's a sickness, actually.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Supports the immune system and may help prevent seasonal ailments such as colds and flu.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Finally, Holiday has been playing through a nagging finger issue but also has a shoulder ailment.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Those not employed were most commonly caring for a family member, attending school, or ill.—
KFF Health News,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2025
-
In the meantime, the new administrators warn that the Kennedy Center is impoverished, that the facility has become shoddy and that some of its programming ill serves the American ideal.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
So Much Top 40 Dope Thief goes into a full-on fever dream.—
Britina Cheng,
Vulture,
12 Apr. 2025
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The authors also determined that dog breeds that tend to dig, such as medium-to-large animals and terriers, are more likely to get Valley fever.—
Sharon Udasin,
The Hill,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Illness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illness. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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