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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of infirmity
Frazier, despite his own infirmities, took pride in the idea that his blows in Manila had contributed to Ali’s Parkinson’s—or even caused it—going so far as to gloat about the possibility on the outgoing voicemail message for his cellphone.
—
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The young men naturally start out strongly, but exhaustion, physical infirmities and psychological stress eventually take their toll on them one by one.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
The governor skillfully countered attacks from Republicans and conservative media regarding Biden’s mental infirmity and physical limitations.
—Matt Klink, Oc Register, 28 May 2025
Some blame reporters defending Biden’s obvious infirmity rather than reporting the hard facts.
—Michael Graham, Boston Herald, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for infirmity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infirmity
Noun
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Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
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In 2024, Patrick's widow Lisa Niemi Swayze teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research.—
Noun
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The strengths and weaknesses are always shown in a game like this.—
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According to the Mayo Clinic, CMS is caused by a gene change that results in muscle weakness, which worsens with physical activity.—
Noun
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The Pistons played without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Isaiah Stewart (illness), Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).—
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Vinjamoori explains that while general recommendations for older adults often start lower, needs increase significantly if a person is active, recovering from illness, or trying to rebuild strength.—
Noun
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There are no speakers in the songs of MJ Lenderman other than MJ Lenderman, whose diffidence and exhaustion are in all-too-perfect lockstep with the psychic frustrations of his listeners.—
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This round of protests feels different from prior ones because of a sense of frustration and exhaustion among people in Iran, said Dina Esfandiary, Middle East lead for Bloomberg Economics.—
Noun
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In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
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Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring ailment, was present.—
Noun
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As a result of her work with AMRs, Wise avoids framing humanoids as some sort of industrial panacea for every economic ill, from labor shortages to manufacturing bottlenecks.—
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Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Noun
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In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life.—
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The shadow of death and debility haunted American women throughout the nineteenth century.—
Noun
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This can lead to extreme sickness, weakness, and even paralysis.—
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This is actually a cultural sickness.—
Cite this Entry
“Infirmity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infirmity. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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