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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ail
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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
The latter's been sent from Baltimore, where his ailing father resides, to live with Joanne and his stepdad, Gary (Paul Adelstein), also a therapist.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
What ails her is not clear, but someone has a hint.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
The latter's been sent from Baltimore, where his ailing father resides, to live with Joanne and his stepdad, Gary (Paul Adelstein), also a therapist.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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Researchers have spent decades developing potatoes for chip makers that can grow in all kinds of climates, avoid diseases and pests, sit in storage for months and still deliver a satisfying crunch.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
After all, inflammation is a major driver of not only gum disease but also the chronic conditions listed above.—
Michele Ross,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With Minnesota viewing them as soft, the Nuggets hardly seem bothered by the criticism.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Fuqua and Logan can’t be bothered to figure it out.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Manager Craig Counsell described this hamstring strain as mild, explaining Thielbar said this is a less-severe version of the ailment.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Lee awkwardly slid into home and banged up his quad in the process, a minor ailment that resulted in him being lifted from the game in the eighth inning.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His campaign is gaining momentum at a time when many of the administration’s steadfast Christian backers—alarmed by the president’s bullying campaign against Pope Leo XIV in recent weeks, among other heresies—have been rethinking their support.—
Elizabeth Bruenig,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Maduro’s capture and extraction alarmed the Cuban leadership.—
Carlos Manuel Alvarez,
Time,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This series, based on a true story, explores the life of Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams), a woman living with terminal cancer who navigates her illness and childhood trauma, blending comedy and profound honesty in a way that challenges traditional narratives around death and sexuality.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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The audio documentary captures the struggles of LGBTQ Christians navigating illness and death amid rejection from both their faith and the gay rights movement.—
Patrick Hipes,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ty Segall exemplifies the modern indie rock experimentalist, constantly trying out new styles and attitudes and usually landing on some intense neopsychedelic sounds that can both comfort and disturb.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
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Even as professional coders are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about the power of AI coding tools, many end users still see them as a boogeyman to instantly blame for any and all observed ills in the tech industry.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Left-wing nonprofit group Democracy Forward filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Tuesday to find records related to a recent report concerning drinking allegations against FBI Director Kash Patel.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Apr. 2026
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Once, when English visited, Hunt was concerned what his two young grandchildren might say in meeting this man who couldn’t walk.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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