Debility

Synonyms for "debility" (123 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (25)

Noun(5 words)
frailtyinfirmityastheniaasthenyconstitutional weakness
advanced ageadvanced yearsadynamiaage of retirementan incurable diseaseanemiaanilityatonyblah feelingbloodlessnessbrain fagcachexiacachexycaducitychronic ill healthcowardicedebilitationdeclinedecline of lifedeclining years

Strong matches (37)

Related words (61)

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: frailty, infirmity, advanced age, advanced years, adynamia.
  • Sentence evidence is available for debility, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "debility".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "debility"

Keep "debility" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "debility" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "debility", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "debility" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

4 entries
health conditionill healthsoftnessunfitness

More specific

9 entries
age related debilitycachectic debilitycardiac debilityconstitutional weaknessfrailty related weaknessprogressive debilityprotein energy debilitysenile debilitysystemic debility

Collocations

6 entries
cachectic debilitycardiac debilitygeneral debilityprotein energy debilitysenile debilitysevere debility

Inflections

1 entries

Derivations

6 entries

Sample sentences

3 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

As I was in a state of extreme debility, I resolved to sail directly towards the town, as a place where I could most easily procure nourishment. […] I was ready to sink from fatigue and hunger, but being surrounded by a crowd, I thought it politic to rouse all my strength, that no physical debility might be construed into apprehension or conscious guilt.

Source: wiktionary

I was struck besides with the shocking expression of his face, with his remarkable combination of great muscular activity and great apparent debility of constitution

Source: wiktionary

At the mention of money Mrs Dibble was overcome with great debility, and wheezed, "I don't feel up to talking about money, matters just now, dearie. I think I better have a bit of a doze."

Source: wiktionary

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "debility"?

Closest matches include frailty, infirmity, advanced age, advanced years, adynamia.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "debility"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "debility"