ail 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ailnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ail

2 of 2

verb

ˈāl How to pronounce ail (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
But the stakes are raised when Mayor Ellis (Tommy Miles) brings in Largesse Productions, a national events planning company owned by the formidable Tate (Jenifer Lewis), in an effort to bring jobs and money back to the ailing town. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026 Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee and is out for up to two months. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
  1. disease
  2. bother
  3. ailment
  4. alarm
  5. illness
  6. disturb
  7. ill
  8. concern
Noun
  • At the time, Stratton was caring for her mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal in humans if treatment is not received before symptoms develop.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • In fact, the movie doesn’t even bother revealing Fang’s ultimate fate; but then again, he’s been fully vindicated in the court of public opinion, so who cares?
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Nothing shows the world that the outside noise doesn’t bother you quite like preparing a statement ahead of time about how much the outside noise doesn’t bother you.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • In these regions, the predominant ailments are HIV/AIDS, premature birth and birth trauma, congenital anomalies and injuries.
    — Emilee Flynn, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Some may find the value to be limited, especially if their dog or cat breed is younger or less predisposed to suffer from medical issues or ailments.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Coolly, Violet responds that to avoid alarming the public, a few agitators have beenneutralized—now there’s a sticky euphemism—and their deaths passed off as revenge killings among drug traffickers.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.
    — Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • Large companies can spread that risk across many people; at a small business, one serious illness or accident can quickly raise costs.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Shigellosis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of illness
Verb
  • For example, in the 20th century there was a flawed world leader who held rigid ideologies, racial biases, and disturbing personal behaviors.
    — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
  • According to Filter, at some point the grave markers were disturbed.
    — Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of disturb
Noun
  • Humor and/or wit feature in your work to address serious issues of the heart or to comment on the socio-political ills of the world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Hilton has blasted Becerra as taking the state’s voters for granted, failing to hold public campaign events to explain his detailed plans to address California’s many ills.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of ill
Verb
  • Musk and SpaceX have been instructed to preserve records concerning restrictions imposed on a military version of the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, CNN first reported, citing an aide to a Democratic senator.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • A number of women who were not known to each other came forward to officers with reports concerning Brand after that investigation was published, the Met Police said.
    — Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of concern

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Cite this Entry

“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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