senile

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'senile' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means exhibiting signs of physical and mental deterioration, especially as the result of old age. Example: The elderly man was becoming increasingly senile and could no longer function on his own.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If they touch on drinking wine, going senile or letting children play video games, they may well command the front pages of newspapers, too.Conversely, failures to prove a hypothesis are rarely even offered for publication, let alone accepted.

The Economist

Their home together is suffused by memories of her abusive father, her apparently senile mother and decades of accumulated hurt, guilt and denial.

The Economist

He eventually moved in with his senile, incontinent mother and drank himself to death.

The Economist

As well as drugs for malaria and internal parasites, I was prescribed in my 30s drugs for senile dementia and a Chinese herbal preparation that seemed to be for male sexual dysfunction.

The Economist

"Have you seen what good shape he's in?" she declared―adding, just a touch too insistently, "my husband is not senile".

The Economist

Keynes said of the ministry's upper echelons: "Half of those present showed manifest signs of senile decay, and the rest didn't speak".

The Economist

Modern medicine is good at keeping people alive; much less successful in dealing with arthritic limbs and senile dementia.

The Economist

In 2002, after the Chilean supreme court ruled that senile dementia made him unfit to face trial, he was forced to resign his Senate seat too (even senators-for-life need to be compos mentis).

The Economist

In "Elegy for Iris", John Bayley, a literary critic and professor of English, similarly assaulted readers with the horrendous realities of looking after his wife, Iris Murdoch, a distinguished novelist, when, suffering from senile dementia, she could no longer look after herself.

The Economist

Cavell's prophecy would have been fulfilled if the story had ended with the ten years that followed, during which she trained and worked as a nurse in hospitals founded specifically for the destitute sick, senile and lunatic.

The Economist

The question is whether Russia's middle class, whose demands and expectations exceed the capacity of the system, can play the same role as the relatively affluent Soviet intelligentsia who helped to sweep away the Soviet Union.In the 1980s the intelligentsia believed that removing senile Communist apparatchiks would be enough to put the country on a path towards normality.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "senile", be mindful of its potentially offensive connotation. Consider using more specific and sensitive language, such as "experiencing age-related cognitive decline", to describe the condition with greater empathy and accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "senile" as a general insult to dismiss someone's ideas or actions. This trivializes the real challenges faced by individuals experiencing cognitive decline and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Focus on the specific flaws in their reasoning or behavior instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "senile" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe individuals exhibiting mental or physical decline due to old age. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct. Examples from Ludwig show usage in contexts such as "senile dementia" and "senile mother".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

32%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "senile" functions as an adjective to describe the mental or physical decline often associated with old age. Ludwig AI confirms the word is grammatically correct. While "senile" is frequently used across various contexts, including News & Media and Encyclopedias, it's important to be aware of its potentially negative connotations. Choosing more specific and sensitive language, such as "experiencing age-related cognitive decline", is often preferable. Although the term is still common, especially in journalistic contexts, as demonstrated by Ludwig, thoughtful and empathetic language choices are essential when discussing cognitive and physical health.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

showing signs of dementia

More specific, pointing to a medical condition rather than general aging.

exhibiting mental deterioration

Highlights the decline in mental abilities.

declining in cognitive function

Highlights the process of cognitive abilities getting worse over time.

suffering from age-related cognitive decline

Focuses on the cognitive aspect and its relation to age.

mentally impaired due to age

Directly links mental impairment to the effects of aging.

in a state of cognitive impairment

A more clinical and formal way to describe reduced cognitive function.

affected by age-related memory loss

Specifically focuses on memory problems associated with aging.

experiencing age-related confusion

Focuses on the confusion and disorientation that can come with old age.

showing the effects of advanced age

Emphasizes the physical and mental changes caused by aging.

doddering

Implies feebleness and instability, both physical and mental, due to old age.

FAQs

How can I use "senile" in a sentence?

The word "senile" describes someone exhibiting deterioration in mental or physical faculties, especially due to old age. For example, "The "senile patient" struggled to remember simple tasks."

What are some alternative ways to say "senile"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "showing signs of dementia", "experiencing age-related cognitive decline", or "mentally impaired due to age".

Is it appropriate to use the word "senile" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "senile" can be perceived as insensitive. In formal or professional contexts, opt for more neutral and descriptive terms like "cognitive impairment" or "age-related memory loss".

What's the difference between "senile" and "dementia"?

"Senile" is a general term referring to the decline in mental or physical faculties associated with old age. "Dementia" is a more specific medical term referring to a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities. So while someone might be described as "senile due to dementia", dementia is the medical condition causing the senility.