1
as in illness
the condition of not being in good health
she was plagued by sickness most of her adult life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant or animal's normal bodily functioning
a sickness that resulted in the death of millions of the nation's elm trees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nausea
a disturbed condition of the stomach in which one feels like vomiting
the sickness that many women feel during the early months of a pregnancy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sickness
Likewise, signals of internal sickness teach the brain to anticipate illnesses that have yet to start.
—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025
In the Tour de France, as an example, sickness is a major concern, particularly in the later stages of the three-week race, when rider immune systems are at their most vulnerable.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Flu sickness is growing, according to CDC data.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025
Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, with this sickness lasting from four to seven days, according to the county’s news release.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickness
Noun
-
The Pistons played without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Isaiah Stewart (illness), Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).—
-
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
-
Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
-
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
-
But as long as the media climate provides the perfect temperature for these shows to grow and expand, and until audiences are satiated to the point of nausea, creators will continue to cook up fresh ideas.—
-
To this end, the brain’s expectations don’t match the new reality, and that mismatch causes space motion sickness (nausea, dizziness, disorientation).—
Noun
-
In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
-
Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who popped up on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring ailment, was present.—
Noun
-
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.—
-
Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.—
Noun
-
Paster is prepared for the fever dream of a press trail that awaits them.—
-
Symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, vomiting and fever come on suddenly, and may be mistaken for other minor illnesses.—
Cite this Entry
“Sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share