debility
Chronic physical weakness
Debility is weakness or feebleness, especially of the body.
The word suggests a diminished capacity rather than complete incapacity—someone suffering from debility can still function, just not at full strength.
It appears most often in medical or formal contexts: The illness left her in a state of general debility.
The plural debilities refers to multiple weaknesses or infirmities.
State of utter depletion
- wearinessState of being drained
- lethargyAbnormal drowsiness and apathy
- tirednessState of needing rest
- enervationLoss of vigor
prostration · listlessness · languor · torpor · malaise · lassitude · sluggishness · depletion
Gradual functional decline with age
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- octogenarianPerson in ninth decade
- nonagenarianPerson aged ninety-plus
senile · decrepitude · dotage · infirmity · failing · decline · deterioration · dementia
Weak and ineffective
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- weakenedMade less capable
- infirmWeak in body
frail · enfeebled · doddering · decrepit · tottering · shaky · unsteady · faltering
Minor health problem
- maladyA bodily affliction
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
chronic · condition · disorder · syndrome · impairment · invalidism · convalescence · hospitalization
Liability to influence
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- fragilityEase of breaking
- exposureState of being unprotected
- weaknessDeficiency in force
precariousness · helplessness · dependence · reliance · risk · prone · liability · compromised
Post-illness healing phase
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- healingRestoration of health
- restorationReturning something to condition
therapy · treatment · mending · improvement · strengthening · resilience · rejuvenation · revitalization
exhaustion
State of utter depletion
enervation · prostration · listlessness · languor · torpor · malaise · lassitude · sluggishness · depletion · drained
senescence
Gradual functional decline with age
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- octogenarianPerson in ninth decade
nonagenarian · senile · decrepitude · dotage · infirmity · failing · decline · deterioration · dementia · Alzheimer's
feeble
Weak and ineffective
infirm · frail · enfeebled · doddering · decrepit · tottering · shaky · unsteady · faltering · halting
ailment
Minor health problem
- maladyA bodily affliction
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
- diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
affliction · chronic · condition · disorder · syndrome · impairment · invalidism · convalescence · hospitalization · diagnosis
susceptibility
Liability to influence
- defenselessnessState of being unprotected
- fragilityEase of breaking
- exposureState of being unprotected
weakness · precariousness · helplessness · dependence · reliance · risk · prone · liability · compromised · immunocompromised
convalescence
Post-illness healing phase
- recuperationGradual return to health
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- healingRestoration of health
restoration · therapy · treatment · mending · improvement · strengthening · resilience · rejuvenation · revitalization · remission
- astrologyastrology, zodiac, horoscope, horoscopes, birth chart
- illnessdisease, sickness, illness, ailment, disorder
- fatigueexhaustion, tiredness, weariness, lethargy, chronic fatigue
- impairmentsimpairment, disability, paralysis, incapacity, blindness
- physical weaknessweakness, frailty, feebleness, poor health, infirmity
- weaknessweakness, feebleness, frailty, asthenia, enfeeblement
debilitystrength
Power to exert force
robustness · sturdiness · muscularity · brawniness · toughness
debilityvigor
Active physical strength
vitality · health · wellness · vigour · robustness
debilityability
Power to do something
capability · capacity · competence · potency · efficacy
debilitate, debilitated, debilitating, debilitation, debilities