1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
an 18th-century quack who specialized in those mysterious infirmities that are known only to the idle rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weakness
the quality or state of lacking physical strength or vigor
a period of infirmity left the athlete completely out of shape
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infirmity
The grandmother’s creeping infirmity does little to curb her excursions with Sophia.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
The scenario that would entail the greatest likelihood of radical change is a succession struggle that would occur if Xi were to pass away or resign owing to infirmity.
—Minxin Pei, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2020
Months later, and two days before the law was to take effect, Attorney General Mike Hilgers described those infirmities in an advisory opinion.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2024
Adding to the fun, Oliver suffers from face blindness, which the show visualizes, like each installment’s neurological infirmity, only selectively.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for infirmity 
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Oct. 2024
The scenario that would entail the greatest likelihood of radical change is a succession struggle that would occur if Xi were to pass away or resign owing to infirmity.
—Minxin Pei, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2020
Months later, and two days before the law was to take effect, Attorney General Mike Hilgers described those infirmities in an advisory opinion.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2024
Adding to the fun, Oliver suffers from face blindness, which the show visualizes, like each installment’s neurological infirmity, only selectively.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for infirmity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmity
Noun
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Leukemia, a disease of the blood and bone marrow, disrupts the body's ability to produce normal blood cells.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
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How long that takes depends on the course of the disease and farmer operations.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sales in international markets rose 0.1%, saddled by weakness in Britain.—
Savyata Mishra,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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But Butler’s debut signified the Warriors’ most hopeful moment in months, an introduction of a superstar who seems to blend well into their system, helps solve their biggest weaknesses and accentuates Curry, who has been dying for a co-star for a few seasons.—
Anthony Slater,
The Athletic,
9 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Clark said the Naval Special Warfare Command reported 1,168 cases of acute gastrointestinal illnesses, such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, among Navy SEAL and Special Warfare Combat crewman candidates at the Coronado base from January 2019 to May 2023.—
Tammy Murga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
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Nearly 8% of outpatient visits for respiratory illness during the week ending Feb. 8 were for flu-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But what’s catching up to us now is exhaustion and low energy.—
Brian Davids,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Feb. 2025
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If the stress doesn't stop, your body eventually moves into the exhaustion stage.1 Stage 3: Exhaustion Stage In the exhaustion stage, stress can lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, extreme tiredness, and a lower ability to handle stress.—
Laura Schober,
Health,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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More news: Browns' Myles Garrett Speaks Out Following Shocking Trade Request Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens were both listed as full participants, which is huge news considering both were dealing with ailments leading into the NFC Championship game.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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Details of the characters’ psychologies — Belle’s impulse to fake an ailment whenever she’s threatened, or Milla’s doubling down on pseudoscience to protect herself from facing mortality — are introduced, underlined, and then hammered over repeatedly.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The superrich have always wielded inordinate economic and social power and, as such, have plenty of historical ills to answer for.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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The latest example is Tony Scholes, the Premier League’s chief football officer, who commented at a media event this week that officials may crack down on one of the modern game’s great ills: goal celebrations.—
Nick Miller,
The Athletic,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
28 June 2024
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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
Noun
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Officials have placed the facility under quarantine, but the cattle have not shown signs of sickness.—
Liam Hibbert | The Center Square Contributor,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
16 Feb. 2025
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Botulism is a rare, but dangerous sickness that causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis and even death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near infirmity
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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