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
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Onstage, Perry rounded up three other young fans in a group hug and offered a prayer for the ailing girl.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 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
In October, 1979, Jimmy Carter reluctantly allowed the ailing Shah to enter the United States for medical care.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Onstage, Perry rounded up three other young fans in a group hug and offered a prayer for the ailing girl.
—Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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Myths, folk tales, and negative media coverage mean people often link these flying mammals to vampires or blame them for disease outbreaks.—
Anna Tunkova,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
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Water plants in the morning so foliage dries quickly to reduce the risk of foliar diseases.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The article includes a fancy-looking formula central to the algorithm, but the formula is nearly impossible to decipher since the authors didn’t bother to explain half the symbols in it.—
Noah Giansiracusa,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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If a body is here, whoever buried it didn’t bother digging deep, because there’s no fear of getting caught.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Emergency room doctors see the worst-case scenarios, the weird fluke accidents, the mysterious ailments and miraculous recoveries.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
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His ailment isn’t known. — Edge rusher Mo Kamara, who left Friday’s practice, returned.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ford put on a blood pressure cuff and was alarmed at the results: 151 over 115, with a heartrate of 171.—
Jen Reeder,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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The decision has alarmed some of Trump's current and former allies in the GOP.—
Micah McCartney
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Wide receiver Jalen Coker (illness) stayed at the team hotel instead of attending the joint practice.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Aug. 2025
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Most people infected with West Nile do not feel sick, the CDC says, though about 1 in 5 people develop a fever and other flu-like symptoms and 1 in about 150 people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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He was recently disturbed by a Reddit thread in which a user posted jargon-heavy chatbot messages that seemed eerily familiar.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
10 Aug. 2025
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This experience left him disturbed by how his presence affected others.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Copper Boyz know all too well about the ills that plague the city.—
Dominick Williams
August 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 Aug. 2025
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Despite his humane pose, Gunn has found a way to revive America’s social ills.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 July 2025
Verb
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On the back of that victory, players recently filed a class action lawsuit against FIFA concerning its rules on player movement.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The cloud, resisted a decade ago by fashion executives concerned about ensuring IP secrecy, is now essential.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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