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
Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Tule, who is about 3½ years old, and Nabu, about a year old, were found as ailing cubs in the wild and were cared for by wildlife rehabilitation groups before coming to the zoo.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 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
Scott Barker, 50, became homeless last summer after losing his job as an HVAC technician, in part due to his ailing knees.
—Helen Rummel, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Tule, who is about 3½ years old, and Nabu, about a year old, were found as ailing cubs in the wild and were cared for by wildlife rehabilitation groups before coming to the zoo.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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Featuring women at the intersections of gender, age, disability, and disease, Pinjar is a nuanced illustration of this.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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The country has also eradicated once-rampant tropical diseases like malaria.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s what bothers me about it.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 20-year-old didn’t bother inspecting it further, threw it in the gutter and went on with her day.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This handy kit comes with more than 30 travel-sized pouches of meds for any ailment, including Pepto-Bismol, ibuprofen, allergy relievers, decongestants, and more.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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Means, through her book, blog and speaking appearances, has championed holistic health with a focus on whole and natural foods, exercise, and curbing pharmaceutical prescriptions for chronic ailments.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Next, a 10,000-pound concrete-and-steel battering ram was used to punch 24-foot holes through the ice, beginning at the far end of the whales' four-mile path to freedom, so as not to alarm them.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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Kim has steered South Korea's northern neighbor closer to Russia and embarked on a large-scale military buildup that has alarmed Seoul and Tokyo.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The couple welcomed a daughter, who died due to a childhood illness.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Some messages warn of a sudden campus illness outbreak, creating a sense of urgency, while others claim that a faculty member is under investigation, prompting recipients to check documents immediately.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For instance, Bella's first meeting with Edward in their biology class is supposed to be this unnerving moment, where Bella is disturbed by Edward's apparent repulsion toward her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
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A lot of disturbing things happened in The Exorcist — Regan MacNeil's 360 neck turn remains one of the most diabolical things to happen on film — and for its innovations, the 1973 movie scored 10 Oscar nominations.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ratti believes similar operations can be the soothing balm for retailers’ current ills.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
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And officials have long looked to play up the ills of other countries, especially the US, to boost their own image for domestic and, increasingly, international audiences.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Twelve of the 20 indicators for the health risks and impacts of climate change in the report set concerning new records—showing that the health impacts caused by our changing climate have reached unprecedented levels that cannot be ignored.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
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So there is some regret there, at least as far as I'm concerned.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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