Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun rheumatism

2 senses of rheumatism

Sense 1
rheumatism -- (any painful disorder of the joints or muscles or connective tissues)
       => disease -- (an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning)

Sense 2
rheumatoid arthritis, atrophic arthritis, rheumatism -- (a chronic autoimmune disease with inflammation of the joints and marked deformities; something (possibly a virus) triggers an attack on the synovium by the immune system, which releases cytokines that stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of the joint)
       => arthritis -- (inflammation of a joint or joints)
       => autoimmune disease, autoimmune disorder -- (any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues)