as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
contracted some tropical distemper while he was doing research in the jungles of Borneo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to alarm
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
despite his career success, he has been distempered by nagging feelings of inadequacy his whole life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 distemper
Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 21 Jan. 2025
Ultimately, distemper went from being a widespread killer to a preventable disease.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 15 Jan. 2025
Democratic dysfunction goes hand in hand with democratic distemper.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
In addition to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, the stray dogs have been implicated in cases of dog bites and rabies in people, and parvo and distemper in pets.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Noun
In one case, a border collie was euthanized within a week of being adopted after it was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and distemper, prosecutors said.
—Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 21 Jan. 2025
Ultimately, distemper went from being a widespread killer to a preventable disease.
—Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 15 Jan. 2025
Democratic dysfunction goes hand in hand with democratic distemper.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
In addition to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, the stray dogs have been implicated in cases of dog bites and rabies in people, and parvo and distemper in pets.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distemper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distemper
Noun
-
The new study opens further questions about other ways plant phenols might make adjustments throughout the body that alter a person’s disease risk.—
Kaitlin Sullivan,
Health,
4 June 2025
-
Untreated dental disease can even be life threatening, as in the case of Deamonte Driver, who died at age 12 after bacteria spread from an untreated tooth abscess to his brain.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in an email, said that he was alarmed by the decision to cut the funding, adding that many Missourians in need of behavioral health care come to Kansas City.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
-
The warning follows a concerning rise in measles cases nationally, with a significant outbreak in Texas that has alarmed public health officials.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Wear masks: All of these respiratory illnesses can be spread through airborne viruses or bacteria particles.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2025
-
It is increasingly recognised that many neurodivergent people are experiencing greater levels of chronic illness, which may have been exacerbated by / precipitated by the Covid-19 outbreak.—
Nancy Doyle,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
His job, which took him back to his native New Orleans, was working out problems at municipal entities distressed by Hurricane Katrina.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
-
Now onto the bad, which is particularly distressing: Baltimore.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
The Incas had advanced calendars and ceramics as well, and perfected a type of neurosurgery, likely to treat skull wounds suffered in battle, among other ailments.—
Sam Kean,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2025
-
The death was attributed to a liver ailment, which veterans said had nothing to do with Siwash’s fondness for beer.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Create Do-Not-Disturb Prompts To Discourage Interruptions Experiment with reducing your availability to interruptions by following specific practices that signal to others you shouldn’t be disturbed.—
Caroline Ceniza-Levine,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Perhaps your time off request isn’t approved, or your vacation plans have been disturbed by your colleagues.—
Liz Simmons,
StyleCaster,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
But the strikes of 2023 that delayed releases slated for 2024 were never the only ills plaguing the entertainment sector.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
3 June 2025
-
For his part, the Briton suggested winning in Monaco was not a cure to all ills.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
After years of ‘losing culture,’ can the new-look Chicago Bears turn things around on defense? Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard didn’t bother mincing words.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
-
The walk, only his second this month, bothered him.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distemper. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share