severe malady

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe malady" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a serious or grave illness or medical condition. Example: "The patient was diagnosed with a severe malady that required immediate treatment."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A common but potentially severe malady afflicting permanent wheelchair users is pressure sores caused by elevated soft tissue strains and stresses over a critical prolonged period of time.

Journal of Biomechanics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Conan Doyle called in an ophthalmologist, who confirmed that Edalji's malady was so severe that he was unable to see properly even with glasses.

The New Yorker

From childhood onward, he suffered from a bewildering array of maladies, ranging from severe gastrointestinal problems to ulcers to respiratory infections to blood disease to spinal deterioration and a few more I don't have space to name.

The New York Times - Books

Drivers are checked for severe heart conditions, high blood pressure and respiratory maladies, including sleep disorders.

The New York Times - Health

With average lifespans increasing due to rapidly improving longevity science, what are people with these maladies to do? Do those with severe cases want to be kept alive for years or even decades in a debilitated mental state just because modern medicine can do it?

Huffington Post

Almost fifty years later, citrus growers are contending with a malady that is both more specific and more severe — and the counsel is far less comforting.

The New Yorker

In affluent areas like the lower two-thirds of Manhattan and parts of north and northeast Queens, frequent causes of death include neurological diseases, severe infections and emphysema or other chronic lung illnesses -- all maladies most likely to afflict the elderly.

The New York Times

In addition to inadequate caloric consumption, huge numbers of people suffer severe impacts of micronutrient deficiencies, leading to anemia, blindness, and other maladies.

FAO

While severe bleeding is uncommon — about 2percentt of racehorses are sidelined because of the malady — the study confirmed what American horsemen had argued but that no data supported: bleeding impaired horses' performances.

The New York Times - Sports

For more severe cases, OTP offers home-based treatment, but only if the child is suffering no additional maladies as a result of their malnutrition.

Unicef

Patients who suffer from severe jaw pain are finding that their dentist suddenly possesses an uncanny ability to cure them of the malady.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a medical condition, consider the audience and choose the most appropriate term. While "severe malady" is technically correct, simpler terms like "serious illness" or "grave disease" might be more accessible and understandable.

Common error

Avoid using "severe malady" in informal contexts. It can sound stilted or overly dramatic. Opt for simpler phrasing like "serious illness" unless the situation warrants a more formal or technical tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe malady" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "severe" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "malady". It serves to describe a particular type of medical condition, specifically one that is serious or critical. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "severe malady" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a serious illness. While recognized by Ludwig AI as correct, it is relatively infrequent and formal, making it more suitable for professional and scientific contexts than casual conversation. Alternatives like "serious illness" or "grave disease" may be more appropriate for general use. The phrase appears in authoritative sources like The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Guardian, and its usage primarily serves to inform about the seriousness of a medical condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious ailment

Replaces "malady" with "ailment", a more common and slightly less formal term for illness.

grave illness

Substitutes "severe" with "grave", emphasizing the seriousness and potential life-threatening nature of the illness.

serious disease

Uses "disease" instead of "malady", a more widely understood term for a medical condition.

critical condition

Replaces the entire phrase with a more clinical term often used in medical settings.

debilitating illness

Emphasizes the weakening or incapacitating effect of the illness.

acute condition

Replaces "severe" with "acute", indicating a sudden and intense onset of the malady.

serious health problem

A more general term indicating a significant issue affecting one's health.

life-threatening disease

Highlights the potential for the disease to result in death.

major medical issue

A broader term that encompasses significant health concerns requiring medical attention.

critical health concern

Highlights the urgency and importance of addressing the health issue.

FAQs

What does "severe malady" mean?

The phrase "severe malady" refers to a serious or grave illness or medical condition. It implies that the condition is significant and potentially life-threatening.

What are some alternatives to saying "severe malady"?

You can use alternatives such as "serious ailment", "grave illness", or "serious disease" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "severe malady" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "severe malady" might sound overly formal or dramatic in casual conversation. Simpler terms like "serious illness" are generally preferred in informal settings.

How does "severe malady" differ from "minor ailment"?

"Severe malady" describes a significant and potentially dangerous health issue, whereas "minor ailment" refers to a less serious and often self-limiting condition. The terms are antonyms, representing opposite ends of the spectrum of health problems.