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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Dan De Luce, NBC news, 18 June 2025
In turn, Iran, which is eager to conclude a nuclear deal to avoid war and boost its ailing economy, has become increasingly dependent on the Gulf states to manage the Trump administration and keep the negotiations going.
—Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025
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
The government is also struggling to contain rising discontent over the ailing economy, which has been plagued by rampant inflation and financial misery for millions of Iranians, according to regional analysts and Western diplomats.
—Dan De Luce, NBC news, 18 June 2025
In turn, Iran, which is eager to conclude a nuclear deal to avoid war and boost its ailing economy, has become increasingly dependent on the Gulf states to manage the Trump administration and keep the negotiations going.
—Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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Do control the Asian psyllid insects with an insecticide spray at each flush of growth to prevent the spread of greening disease.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
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After Yang was found, Police thanked those who assisted in the search for the missing man, who also has Parkinson’s disease.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
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While notification bundles were an option before, they were primarily used for messaging, and not all developers bothered.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
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If Waldron wasn’t battered, then Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was hardly bothered.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The 83-year-old singer-songwriter and former member of Grammy-winning folk duo Simon & Garfunkel announced the cancellation of two concerts in Philadelphia over the weekend due to a physical ailment.—
Emlyn Travis Published,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
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Brown only threw 55 1/3 innings in 15 games (eight starts) during 2024 because of a neck ailment that sidelined him most of the season.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
Verb
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The apostles are alarmed, but Jesus understands his destiny is coming.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
30 June 2025
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The entire affair—the opening, the closing, the paranoia, and then the alarming news of a shooting (which was unrelated and, thankfully, nonfatal)—could be easily put down to the vagaries of big-city life.—
Emma Sarappo,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Noun
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But then there are the rare illnesses that produce truly violent forces.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 June 2025
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No chronic illness, no prescription medications, normal blood work and all that in my physical exams.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Hammond, not wanting the dinosaurs disturbed, sends behavioral paleontologist Sarah Harding (Julianne Moore) to Isla Sorna, where the dinosaurs have been living without human interference.—
Will Harris,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
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The Heisenberg uncertainty principle teaches us that observation disturbs the observed.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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And then there were the potential ills of a conventional approach, like fumes spewed by laminate flooring.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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Zooming in on mitochondria might offer a reassuringly specific and seemingly scientific explanation of the many real ills of the U.S. population, but ultimately, Means and MAHA are only helping obscure the big picture.—
Hannah Seo,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2025
Verb
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Close to four out of five companies concerned with tariffs have postponed or scaled back capital expenditures.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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As far as the luxury tax is concerned, deferred money is discounted annually during the term of the contract.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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