1
2
: a harmful development (as in a social institution)
sees the city's crime as a disease
3
obsolete
: trouble
Synonyms
Examples of disease in a Sentence
He suffers from a rare genetic disease.
a disease of the mind
Thousands die of heart disease each year.
They are working to stop the spread of disease in rural areas.
The article cites intolerance as one of the most dangerous of society's diseases.
He sees crime as a disease that too often plagues the poor and disadvantaged.
Recent Examples on the Web
The diet has been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and related conditions like obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension.
—
Randi Richardson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Robert’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease leads to an exploration of art, activism, grief and fatherhood.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
His disease was discovered after visiting an orthopedic surgeon for a recurring shoulder injury.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Read more Dengue Party Tray Recall Sparks Warning in 7 States
This year's crisis is compounded by the resurgence of dengue serotype 3 in parts of Central America and the Caribbean, a strain not widely seen in over a decade, according to Thais dos Santos, PAHO's adviser on arboviral diseases.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disease 
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Randi Richardson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
Robert’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease leads to an exploration of art, activism, grief and fatherhood.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
His disease was discovered after visiting an orthopedic surgeon for a recurring shoulder injury.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
Read more Dengue Party Tray Recall Sparks Warning in 7 States
This year's crisis is compounded by the resurgence of dengue serotype 3 in parts of Central America and the Caribbean, a strain not widely seen in over a decade, according to Thais dos Santos, PAHO's adviser on arboviral diseases.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for disease
Dictionary Entries Near disease
Cite this Entry
“Disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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Medical Definition
disease
noun
dis·ease
diz-ˈēz 
: an impairment of the normal state of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that interrupts or modifies the performance of the vital functions, is typically manifested by distinguishing signs and symptoms, and is a response to environmental factors (as malnutrition, industrial hazards, or climate), to specific infective agents (as worms, bacteria, or viruses), to inherent defects of the organism (as genetic anomalies), or to combinations of these factors : sickness, illness
called also morbus
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