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
Taking them to their natural habitat in Africa isn’t feasible, given their limited gene pool and chance of carrying diseases.
—
Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 1 May 2026
Inspect regularly for pests and diseases.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Meanwhile, the close proximity of people hastened the transmission of mycobacterial diseases through coughing.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Fungal diseases also thrive in wet soil, which can also affect the seeds.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
Eating raspberries and blackberries supplies antioxidants, which may help prevent certain diseases.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Winters have grown shorter in most places across the country, upending everything from tourism and recreation to the transmission season of certain diseases, report Ignacio Calderon, Ramon Padilla, Veronica Bravo and Janet Loehrke in this interactive USA Today project.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Since Operation Warp Speed’s success, federal policymakers have continued to help scientists explore mRNA’s potential to combat other diseases, from flu to hepatitis.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Repeat expansions have been shown in lots of neurological diseases.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 1 May 2026
Inspect regularly for pests and diseases.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Meanwhile, the close proximity of people hastened the transmission of mycobacterial diseases through coughing.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
Fungal diseases also thrive in wet soil, which can also affect the seeds.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 30 Apr. 2026
Eating raspberries and blackberries supplies antioxidants, which may help prevent certain diseases.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Winters have grown shorter in most places across the country, upending everything from tourism and recreation to the transmission season of certain diseases, report Ignacio Calderon, Ramon Padilla, Veronica Bravo and Janet Loehrke in this interactive USA Today project.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Since Operation Warp Speed’s success, federal policymakers have continued to help scientists explore mRNA’s potential to combat other diseases, from flu to hepatitis.
—Michael C. Burgess, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026
Repeat expansions have been shown in lots of neurological diseases.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diseases
Noun
-
Consumption of food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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But illnesses in other states could be possible, CDC officials added.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More players, including goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, continue to work their way back from various ailments.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
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A lot of issues came up in this week’s debate, but interestingly enough, the ailments affecting the entertainment industry and workers here in Southern California and throughout the state did not come up.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The symptoms of our darkest cultural sicknesses become visible.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
-
From the moment the kids set foot back at school in the fall, until some time around spring break, parents can expect sicknesses to take over their homes faster than the latest viral slang expression.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gaza’s most dire conditions — the lack of food and medicine, continuing Israeli attacks, destroyed hospitals, schools and residential buildings, homelessness and overcrowding — now include rodents, climbing temperatures and open-air sewage.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
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The office is responsible for fiscal control over the disbursement and receipts of public dollars and issues regular reports on the financial conditions of local and state governments.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But mental disorders account for the larger share of healthy life years lost, reflecting the chronic and disabling nature of many mental health conditions.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
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As governments refocus their policies to tackle conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, mental illness is often being sidelined as a secondary concern rather than as a primary component of brain health.—
Eric J. Nestler,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The condition can cause pain, infections and fevers.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
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In addition to fevers and continuous, watery diarrhea, rotavirus symptoms in babies and children can also include loss of appetite and dehydration, per the NFID.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Diseases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diseases. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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