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

Sandy, apparently blind to the interpersonal nuances ailing the deck team, keeps Aesha on deck, Kayley as acting chief stew, and makes Joe acting bosun for the charter. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026 Because for all else that ailed the Chiefs last year, a common denominator was the loss of that certain something that starts with discipline and an edge. — Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail

Noun

Those enrolled have experienced CLBP due to degenerative disc disease (DDD) for less than five years.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
Prices of the precious commodity have swung dramatically from one season to the next, particularly as issues such as climate change, water scarcity and pest and disease pressures persist.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

Contreras rarely takes days off but asked for a day off Sunday with his leg bothering him.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Chapman won’t play another game for the Giants this year after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this week, but the 33-year-old has finally addressed an ailment that’s bothered him for effectively the whole season.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of bother

Noun

In this high silk topper The Big Bambino was on top of the world with no premonition that a serious throat ailment would lead to his death in a few short years.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Chapman won’t play another game for the Giants this year after undergoing core muscle surgery earlier this week, but the 33-year-old has finally addressed an ailment that’s bothered him for effectively the whole season.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailment

Verb

Garcia said that before the attack, residents were already alarmed by a May news release from the city manager of neighboring Rio Vista, who warned that the project and potential annexation could open the door to a giant data center being built.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Terrified Jewish voters—alarmed by progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s anti-Zionist rhetoric—are fleeing to Republican Mike Rogers for self-preservation.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Noun

Several iterations of the idea have since taken shape, expanding to refugees, students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, seniors with chronic illness.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
The sources haven’t been identified for nine of the ongoing foodborne illness outbreaks and two of the ongoing Salmonella outbreaks.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of illness

Verb

Road construction can disturb natural hydrology, said Kate Groetzinger, the communications director for the Center for Western Priorities.

— Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026
A couple of years ago, a neighbor’s trees were disturbing the view from their $3-million summer house on the coast of Maine.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of disturb

Noun

Alex Pantling/Getty Images What is clear is that no one thinks the changes enacted in either the Championship or League One are a resolution to the EFL’s marked financial ills.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of ill

Verb

Roy can’t escape one difficult question, however, concerning his plans for what’s next after his contract’s up at the end of the season.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
And while early-onset Alzheimer’s is rare, that doesn’t mean women should ignore changes that genuinely concern them.

— Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of concern

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“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ail

noun

verb

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