DISTEMPER Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

distemper 1 of 2

noun

Definition of distemper

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

distemper

2 of 2

verb

dis-ˈtem-pər

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

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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

Noun

According to the shelter, staff had already been monitoring for signs of distemper due to cases reported in surrounding counties. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Per Cook County ordinance, dog owners also must submit their dogs' vaccine records — with proof of their dogs' vaccines or titers (antibodies) for rabies, distemper (CFV), hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-2), parainfluenza (CPIV), parvovirus (CPV), leptospirosis, and Bordetella (kennel cough). — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 16 Feb. 2026

Verb

Mother had purchased a new bed and armoire for his room, and the walls were freshly distempered. — Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distemper

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distemper

Noun

The man fell into a coma and succumbed to the disease on October 9, 2026, after life support was withdrawn.

— Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026
Amid the onset of Parkinson’s disease, Lincoln retired from the museum in 2014.

— Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
The new company has nearly $80 billion in debt, with leverage of six-and-a-half times trailing earnings, a ratio that has alarmed investors and triggered credit rating downgrades.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

An officer responded to PSA, and police said about two pallets of cards were stolen from the truck and a third was disturbed.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
On vehicles with a dedicated secondary passenger display, front passengers can browse, view lyrics, and watch video content without disturbing the driver.

— Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturb

Noun

Last season, Williams missed 49 regular-season games and much of the postseason after dealing with a right wrist injury that required surgery and nagging hamstring ailments in both legs.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
So, too, was Capra’s, despite some misbegotten movies and his struggles with depression and other ailments.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of ailment

Verb

The drummer said she was distressed by the paucity of water stations available, and feared the triple-digit heat was a risk for fans.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Zara Larsson packed five looks into 24 hours in New York, with enough platforms, strappy sandals and distressed denim to outfit a few nights out in the 2000s.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of distress

Noun

Hilton has blasted Becerra as taking the state’s voters for granted, failing to hold public campaign events to explain his detailed plans to address California’s many ills.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Now, in The Social Reckoning, Sorkin focuses on the ills of the company Facebook eventually became.

— Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of ill

Verb

The mathematics and computer science graduate, who spent two years in the Peace Corps, launched Netflix by mailing DVDs in red envelopes to customers bothered by Blockbuster Video chain’s practices and late fees.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Some people, like me, are bothered by such images but can mostly ignore them.

— Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Browse Nearby Words

distastes

distemper

distemperature

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“Distemper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distemper. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of distemper

noun

verb

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