as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
our grandmother's debility is due in large part to her advanced age
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Recent Examples of debility
The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.
—
Jenny Noyce, JSTOR Daily, 28 June 2024
According to this view, the outside world has been generous to Africa, providing substantial aid in recent decades, leaving no excuse for the continent’s debility.
—Howard W. French, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
President Biden’s troubles — lingering inflation, wars and rumors of wars, his debility — could have benefited any Republican.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
As with fibroids, hormonal treatments and surgical options can help, though scarring and changes in the nervous system’s threshold for perceiving pain (eventually creating the experience of pain even in the absence of a stimulus) can create long-term debilities.
—Laura Kolbe, The New York Review of Books, 18 Jan. 2024
In Amy Schumer’s comedy special Emergency Contact, the comedian talks about developing hyperemesis gravidarum, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting and might lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and debility.
—Brianna Holt, Vogue, 7 July 2023
Given their ages and debilities, these soldiers had been deemed unfit for active service.
—David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
As the wealth of nations increases and exposure to toxins and infectious agents drops, aging will become the cause of most disease, debility, and death.
—George Church, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2012
The Covid-19 pandemic has driven widespread debility, whether a result of distress or the virus itself, compounded in either case by political abandonment and public health failures.
—Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 8 Dec. 2022
Jenny Noyce, JSTOR Daily, 28 June 2024
According to this view, the outside world has been generous to Africa, providing substantial aid in recent decades, leaving no excuse for the continent’s debility.
—Howard W. French, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
President Biden’s troubles — lingering inflation, wars and rumors of wars, his debility — could have benefited any Republican.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024
As with fibroids, hormonal treatments and surgical options can help, though scarring and changes in the nervous system’s threshold for perceiving pain (eventually creating the experience of pain even in the absence of a stimulus) can create long-term debilities.
—Laura Kolbe, The New York Review of Books, 18 Jan. 2024
In Amy Schumer’s comedy special Emergency Contact, the comedian talks about developing hyperemesis gravidarum, a potentially life-threatening condition that causes extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting and might lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and debility.
—Brianna Holt, Vogue, 7 July 2023
Given their ages and debilities, these soldiers had been deemed unfit for active service.
—David Grann, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
As the wealth of nations increases and exposure to toxins and infectious agents drops, aging will become the cause of most disease, debility, and death.
—George Church, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2012
The Covid-19 pandemic has driven widespread debility, whether a result of distress or the virus itself, compounded in either case by political abandonment and public health failures.
—Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 8 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debility
Noun
-
Oklahoma City addressed most of its playoff weaknesses from last May.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
-
This Jayhawks squad lacks the right pieces around Harris and Adams — players who could amplify their strengths while covering for some of their weaknesses.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
However, the Magnificent 7 stocks have seen internal bifurcation in 2025, showing signs of exhaustion.—
Jeff Kilburg,
CNBC,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Nor is stealth aided by growing evidence of his own neglectful self-care: exhaustion, panic attacks, blackouts, a limp from unattended jogging injuries, eventually audio and visual hallucinations.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The symptoms of fatigue may be masked temporarily — Red Bull helps — but, alas, they cannot be reversed.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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Symptoms may start days or weeks after consuming the bacteria and can include fever, muscle aches and fatigue.—
Katherine Dillinger,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debility. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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