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Commonly Confused Words
Disease/Illness
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Cologne/Perfume
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Disease vs. Illness
Disease
/dɪˈziːz/
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A condition that negatively affects the body or mind, making it unable to work normally
Examples:
She caught a
disease
last winter.
Doctors are searching for a cure for this
disease
.
Synonyms:
illness
sickness
ailment
disorder
condition
Antonyms:
health
wellness
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
Illness
/ˈɪlnəs/
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A state of poor health usually caused by disease or sickness
Examples:
His
illness
kept him in bed for days.
Taking time off work helped her recover from
illness
.
Synonyms:
sickness
disease
ailment
Antonyms:
health
wellness
Learn more about synonyms and antonyms
Ways to tell them apart:
A disease is a specific condition with identifiable symptoms and its own set of causes.
Illness is a broader concept that refers to the subjective feeling of being unwell.
Disease can be measurable and diagnosable, whereas illness is more subjective and personal.
Think of disease as the medical condition diagnosed by a doctor and illness as how that condition feels.
Not all illnesses are linked to specific diseases; sometimes you feel ill due to other factors like stress.
When to use disease:
When to use illness:
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