1
2
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
one of the ill effects of winter weather is the rapid spread of germs as people spend more time together indoors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poorly
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
since I'm ill, I guess that I'll just have to miss that dental appointment
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4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
such ill behavior will not be tolerated
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5
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
the abrupt breakdown of negotiations appears to be an ill omen for this ongoing hostage situation
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1
as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
in those days society treated debtors very ill, even going so far as to put them in prison
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2
as in no
certainly not
you can ill afford to miss another day of work
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1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
chicken pox and the other ills that were once a fixture of childhood
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2
as in evil
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
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3
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ill
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
At the height of the rebellion, Bacon suddenly became ill and died on October 26, 1676, probably from dysentery.
—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 June 2026
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
24 June 2026
The easy place to point to was in the front court, where Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert both have had great moments in Wolves jerseys, but also seemed to be ill-fitting pieces right next to each other.
—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Many Barcelona residents feel the Sagrada Familia's fame has driven some of overtourism's worst ills.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
Several of the ill people, who also include Canadian diplomats, reported vertigo, tinnitus, headaches, cognitive impairmen, and other issues after feeling intense pressure or hearing strange sounds coming from one direction in incidents that happened in several countries.
—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
At the height of the rebellion, Bacon suddenly became ill and died on October 26, 1676, probably from dysentery.
—
Tracy Grant,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 June 2026
Adverb
Not everything went smoothly, as one of them fell ill.
—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
24 June 2026
The easy place to point to was in the front court, where Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert both have had great moments in Wolves jerseys, but also seemed to be ill-fitting pieces right next to each other.
—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Noun
Ultimately, a ballot initiative won’t cure the ills that plague healthcare in the United States, said the Lown Institute’s Saini.
—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Many Barcelona residents feel the Sagrada Familia's fame has driven some of overtourism's worst ills.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
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Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.
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Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.
Adjective
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Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.
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Developing a negative self-view as a result of these harmful experiences during your formative years is not uncommon.
Adjective
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This fragmented model creates friction and quietly drains profitability through unbilled hours, margin erosion from poorly staffed projects and elevated turnover when top talent hits operational roadblocks.
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For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
Adjective
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Because of that, these hands suffer from high production costs, poor durability against impacts, short operational lifespans, and there are no existing solutions that engineers can readily draw upon, Wang added.
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The extreme heat can also affect people who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
Adjective
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The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.
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If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.
Adverb
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The earthquakes severely damaged Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, the principal gateway serving Caracas, complicating the arrival of international aid.
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Unless the cover is severely damaged, it can often be resecured or even straightened.
Adverb
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Minimum deals can be no longer than two seasons in length.
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What has changed in recent years, however, is that prediction markets are no longer an obscure pastime enjoyed by political junkies.
Noun
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Speaking with Seacoast Online, part of the USA TODAY Network, three years after his diagnosis, Hall said the symptoms of the disease can come and go.
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While bedbugs are not known to spread or transmit disease, the Environmental Protection Agency considers the parasitic insects a pest that can cause other public health issues such as allergic reactions, secondary infections and mental health impacts on those living in infested homes.
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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