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senile

senile

46 6.8
Having memory loss and slower thinking in older people
  • adjective
  • /ˈsiːnaɪl/
  • Slur
translation icon : senil
  • My grandfather is showing signs of being senile, often forgetting recent conversations.
  • senile dementia
  • senile plaques
  • senile amyloid deposition

He's like this senile old man that just rambles.

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Examples

Synonyms

feeble
vssenile
25 3.9

Physically or mentally weak and low in energy

focuses more on general weakness rather than specific mental decline
senescent
vssenile
1 9.8

Showing signs of old age

specifies loss of mental faculties rather than general aging signs
doddering
vssenile
1 8.2

Weak and unsteady because of old age, often moving slowly

centres on loss of thinking ability rather than only physical unsteadiness
doddery
vssenile
8.9

Being weak, unsteady, or slow in thinking because of old age

focuses on loss of mental faculties as an age related weakness

Antonyms

87 4.1

Having a lot of strength and energy

85 3.1

Having the energy and fresh look of a young person

Compounds

senile dementia
  • Archaic
1 6.2

Loss of memory and thinking in older people caused by gradual brain damage not from stroke

9.3

Severe memory loss and confusion in very old people caused by brain damage

How Senile

demented
  • Slur
56 7.9
senile
  • Slur
46 6.8
confused
692 1.3
forgetful
23 2.8

Surface Forms

senile positive

Morphology

senile = sen + ile

The root 'sen' is not a standalone English word, but the meaning 'old' is recognizable and related to English words like 'senior', so learners may partially infer the meaning though the morphological formation is not fully productive in modern English.

Etymology

Senile comes from the Latin root senex meaning 'old' and is the same root as senior. So senile describes a loss of memory or clear thinking that can come with being very old.