as in illnesses
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
they caught a rare disease while they were traveling in Africa and were sick for weeks
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Recent Examples of diseases
Bird droppings are also common on feeders, which can increase the spread of avian diseases among the bird population.
—
Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
Blood stem cells, often extracted from bone marrow have been used for decades as a successful treatment for a variety of diseases including blood cancers such as leukemias, as well as autoimmune diseases.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
While doctors say vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of measles and other diseases, preventive efforts like isolating sick people and notifying those who have been exposed to them are also key.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
And diseases don’t just spread in the classroom.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
These projects lowered deaths and infections while also strengthening health-care systems, allowing low-income countries to better respond to diseases as varied as malaria and diabetes.
—John Green, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025
Many trees die in forests over time because of diseases and pests or environmental stressors including climate change.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
While these diseases tend to be the result of a combination of genetic, physiological and environmental factors, behavioral factors also come into play.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Those studies show that supplementing with vitamin A in people who are deficient can lead to milder infections with diseases like measles.
—Alice Park, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025
Blood stem cells, often extracted from bone marrow have been used for decades as a successful treatment for a variety of diseases including blood cancers such as leukemias, as well as autoimmune diseases.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
While doctors say vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of measles and other diseases, preventive efforts like isolating sick people and notifying those who have been exposed to them are also key.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
And diseases don’t just spread in the classroom.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
These projects lowered deaths and infections while also strengthening health-care systems, allowing low-income countries to better respond to diseases as varied as malaria and diabetes.
—John Green, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025
Many trees die in forests over time because of diseases and pests or environmental stressors including climate change.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 4 Mar. 2025
While these diseases tend to be the result of a combination of genetic, physiological and environmental factors, behavioral factors also come into play.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2025
Those studies show that supplementing with vitamin A in people who are deficient can lead to milder infections with diseases like measles.
—Alice Park, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diseases
Noun
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Fall is when a lot of seasonal illnesses start going around.—
Elizabeth Medeiros,
Health,
22 Mar. 2025
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However, no illnesses have been reported to date.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Burning coal also creates lung-damaging smog and emits brain-damaging mercury and soot pollution that triggers respiratory ailments and shaves years off lives.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
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Native Americans have used these berries to treat a range of ailments, including colds, toothaches and fevers.—
Vicky Hallett,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The book doesn’t find a clear answer to its titular question but breaks a taboo by searching for one in choices made by Iranians themselves and not just ills done to them by outsiders.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
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Conspiracy theories and simplistic sloganeering popular at the time tended to blame Iran’s ills solely on colonialism or capitalism.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Measles also causes fevers and red, watery eyes and can lead to complications such as pneumonia or, in rare cases, brain damage and death.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
4 Mar. 2025
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They are associated with fevers, chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, pregnancy, or a postpartum or immunocompromising condition.—
Cathy Nelson,
Verywell Health,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diseases. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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