AIL Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

ail 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ail

as in disease

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning half of the staff is out sick with the usual wintertime ails

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ail

2 of 2

verb

ˈāl

as in to bother

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy parents who were at a loss to explain what was ailing their normally vivacious daughter

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ail

Noun

What’s more, the age-old phrase the team’s fans have used to describe Detroit’s recent ails – ‘SOL’ or same old Lions – seems to have been banished for now. — Ben Morse, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 In the age of generative AI, the theft of huge troves of medical information might be even more dangerous, as our health records wind up in data sets that enable off-the-books innovation in exploiting our ails. — Steven Levy, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024

Verb

So Parker telephoned the base posing as the doctor of Adams’ supposedly ailing mother and talked the young soldier’s superiors into issuing an emergency furlough. — Dan Kelly july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 Jon Moxley argued with a conflicted Will Ospreay as Ospreay struggled to find a killer instinct and pull the trigger on his ailing friend. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail

Noun

The study’s findings also highlight the need for physicians to be alert to early signs of disease and consider blood pressure treatment, even in younger people, according to Freeman.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Etzel noted that the order makes several significant changes, which include reducing the number of diseases targeted by childhood vaccines and separating the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine into individual shots.

— Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
As if the constant barrage of political ads wasn't enough, some WCCO viewers are particularly bothered by the language candidates are using.

— Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of bother

Noun

Medics treat heat stroke and other ailments from trailers while an announcer calls out an endless stream of names of people separated from their families.

— Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
During his time in the minors, Mayer dealt with hip, back, shoulder and wrist ailments.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailment

Verb

Found in many foods For consumers, of course, the latest food safety concerns can be alarming given that lettuce and jalapeño peppers are used in many of the roughly 1 billion meals Americans consume daily.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, Murphy is alarmed by what Iran stands to benefit from an end to the war.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Noun

Inter Miami paid tribute to Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, after his death following an illness was announced on Saturday.

— Avi Creditor, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
His illness became a topic of discussion during the 2026 World Cup, when his family acknowledged a health situation as Lionel Messi competed.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of illness

Verb

Sulfur-rich gases reaching the upper atmosphere could reflect sunlight and temporarily cool the climate, disturbing rainfall and reducing harvests worldwide.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Some people think putting more and more effects is the best way to express ourselves for the audience, and some filmmakers just want to keep the balance without disturbing the original movie.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturb

Noun

Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments.

— Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
Last month, Kwon’s team, in collaboration with Seongju Kim at Hanbat National University, in Daejeon, South Korea, presented its solution to HBM’s future ills.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026

Definition of ill

Verb

By identifying exactly what the frustration concerns before reacting, leaders are more likely to channel emotion toward fixing broken systems instead of attacking individuals.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
At least as far as productivity is concerned, there is some merit to this thinking.

— Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of concern

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“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ail

noun

verb

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