infirmities

noun

plural of infirmity
as in diseases
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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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 infirmities Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said protecting elderly people from predators who take advantage of their mental or physical infirmities is a priority of her office. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 Because of his infirmities, he is housed in a medical unit of the jail, away from the general population. — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmities
  1. diseases
  2. ailments
  3. illnesses
  4. ills
  5. sicknesses
  6. fevers
Noun
  • Looking through his microscope, Kubelka counted cells as part of a study of neuromuscular diseases.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Currently, Florida requires kids to get vaccinated against various diseases.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • Alongkot later expanded the hospice to offer treatment to people suffering from other serious ailments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Another handful of Panthers injuries to monitor The Panthers also have a few ailments to keep track of during the Week 5 bye.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailments
Noun
  • Blanchard has said her mother abused her for years and forced her to fake serious illnesses.
    — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Were these illnesses and injuries because of the 18-mile option, or despite it?
    — Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of illnesses
Noun
  • Now, in The Social Reckoning, Sorkin focuses on the ills of the company Facebook eventually became.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The game’s maker, Paolo Pedercini, has long diagnosed the ills of modern capitalism through countercultural video games like Phone Story (2011), which depicted the exploitative supply chain of a smartphone.
    — Lewis Gordon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ills
Noun
  • And while children, the elderly and those with certain sicknesses or medications are most susceptible to heat illness – these temperatures affect everyone.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • At the end of the day, both doctors agree that hotel stays shouldn’t deter people from traveling altogether, since there are always ways to proactively minimize exposure and subsequent sicknesses.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of sicknesses
Noun
  • Pregnant women can suffer stillbirths and miscarriages from the high fevers.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Signs of severe symptoms include bloody diarrhea, fevers over 102 degrees or frequent vomiting that prevents hydration, according to the CDC.
    — Julia Hawkins, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of fevers

Browse Nearby Words

infirmary
infirmities
infirmity
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infirmities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmities. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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