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
Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
She was not immediately found and her ailing husband died around a week later from heart disease.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 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
Three people died, one passenger was in intensive care in South Africa, and two ailing crew members remained on board and were in need of urgent medical care, the cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions said.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
She was not immediately found and her ailing husband died around a week later from heart disease.
—Gerald Imray, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported new hantavirus cases in Spain and France, drawing attention to the rare but potentially severe disease, which can cause serious respiratory complications in humans.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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People with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, or colitis may not tolerate high-fiber meals as well and sometimes require a lower-fiber approach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
13 May 2026
Verb
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There were other stories that bothered him more, like a post by a writer who recounted a chaste one-night stand with Tea Party activist and Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell that described her pubic hair.—
Frank DiGiacomo,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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However, in the wild, the algae are the ocean’s introverts, and only glow when they are bothered, like jolted by a crashing wave or the hull of a passing boat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
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Manager Tony Vitello shared that Webb was dealing with knee discomfort, but Webb didn’t use an ailment as an excuse for his performance.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
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The Hornets were down to seven healthy players for the final stretch of games, including Williams with an assortment of ailments.—
Joe Davidson
May 7,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Females will sting if handled or alarmed though, so avoid doing that.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
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The results reinforced a broader trend that has alarmed both of Britain's major parties.—
Inaya Folarin Iman,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Noun
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None of the people being monitored have shown signs of illness, health officials told USA TODAY.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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Jeremy Sochan entered as a small-ball option, and the Knicks were already piecing together frontcourt minutes with Robinson unavailable because of illness.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The Manta Sleep Mask has adjustable eye cups that create a true blackout, so cabin lights and neighboring seatback screens don’t disturb her rest.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
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Not to mention, harvesting garlic bulbs can disturb the soil quite a bit and interfere with the growth of sage plant roots.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
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And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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New government wants to unblock frozen EU funds Magyar’s administration is expected to transform political dynamics within the European Union, where the former prime minister had upended the bloc by frequently vetoing key decisions, most recently concerning support for neighboring Ukraine.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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As far as drugs are concerned, alcohol’s toll is only outpaced by the prolonged damage of tobacco.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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