ill afford
idiom
: to be unable to afford : to be unable to do (something) without having problems or being seriously harmed
She bought a new car, which she could ill afford.
We can ill afford more bad publicity.
Examples of ill afford in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This dynamic was pointed to in the wake of a disappointing playoff exit last year and the Phillies can ill afford a similar fate now that their championship window seems in even more danger of closing.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
The impact tends to be harder on low-income households that can ill afford the loss.
− Bailey Schulz
US stock futures plunge: Dow sinks as investors digest Trump's tariffs
How were foreign tariffs on US goods determined?
—John Bacon, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Regardless of intent, the Padres can ill afford to allow free base runners.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Trading nations such as Qatar can ill afford to ignore China’s Belt and Road Initiative .
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill afford
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
The impact tends to be harder on low-income households that can ill afford the loss.
− Bailey Schulz
US stock futures plunge: Dow sinks as investors digest Trump's tariffs
How were foreign tariffs on US goods determined?
—John Bacon, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Regardless of intent, the Padres can ill afford to allow free base runners.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Trading nations such as Qatar can ill afford to ignore China’s Belt and Road Initiative .
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill afford
Cite this Entry
“Ill afford.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill%20afford. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share