dementia

noun

di-ˈmen(t)-shə How to pronounce dementia (audio)
Definition of dementianext
as in schizophrenia
a serious mental disorder that prevents one from living a safe and normal life doctors were able to treat the patient's dementia with drugs and thus allow him to function on his own

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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 dementia The program aims to address the overwhelming stress and concern people living with dementia and their caregivers have due to progression of the disease. — Hillary Lum, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 The project – selected for the Nordic Co-Production Market – sees an American dropout who tries to save her grandmother from dementia and accidentally triggers a zombie outbreak at a Norwegian nursing home. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026 The dementia went away after her hospice team changed some of her medications. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Dementia is caused by neurodegenerative disease, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dementia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dementia
  1. schizophrenia
  2. insanity
  3. hysteria
  4. madness
  5. instability
Noun
  • AntiMood stabilizers support people who have mood swings because of conditions such as bipolar disorder, personality disorder and schizophrenia.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • He’d been diagnosed with schizophrenia, his autopsy report said.
    — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of schizophrenia
Noun
  • Massachusetts law states that a person committed after a successful insanity defense can be recommitted over and over again, each time for a one-year period.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result is what some people call insanity.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • The roughly 25-acre farm is also home to a reproduction of the Salem Village Meeting House, the site of many early hearings about the Salem witchcraft hysteria.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Russia has rejected all accusations of espionage, portraying them as part of anti-Russian hysteria.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hysteria
Noun
  • Can a squad of scientists (including Kurt Russell) fight off madness and mayhem before the Thing overtakes them all?
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
  • This week the madness leaps from the stage to the screen as Stamptown premieres its first Netflix special Tuesday.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • At this late juncture in the season, the instability of the Akira One’s revolving-door crew is taking its toll.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • As Western forces withdraw and violence spreads in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, analysts warn these Russian security deals deepen dependence on Moscow while failing to reverse the region’s worsening instability.
    — Chinedu Asadu, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of instability

Browse Nearby Words

dementedness
dementia
demerit
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dementia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dementia. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dementia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dementia

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