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
Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2025
The clearly ailing Todd’s cameo in this year’s Final Destination Bloodlines added a layer of heart to the horror in the franchise reboot, another of 2025’s genre blockbusters.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 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
Georgia has spent two weeks fixing what’s ailing a defense that has problems with multiple offenses, and hasn’t covered well in the secondary since 2023.
—Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2025
The clearly ailing Todd’s cameo in this year’s Final Destination Bloodlines added a layer of heart to the horror in the franchise reboot, another of 2025’s genre blockbusters.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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The result is a hybrid system capable of autonomously targeting and treating disease sites with minimal disruption.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
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As Hoffine noted, hunger often kills not just through starvation, but by weakening immune systems to the point where people can't fight off disease.—
Nurith Aizenman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The clanging of dirty dishes being gathered in the back kitchen does not bother her.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
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Instagram and TikTok are littered with stories of women and their unsupportive husbands, men who can't remember their own children's birthdays or be bothered to take a weekend off from their golf hobby to spend time with their families.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Christian Braun added 31 points, Aaron Gordon scored 20, and Jamal Murray — playing through a calf ailment — finished with 15 points and seven assists.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Chronic inflammation is a low-level, persistent activation of the immune system that can damage the body over time and is linked to ailments such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and autoimmune conditions.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Sexton called for the review after hearing from owners alarmed by the rapid rise in assessed values.—
Austin Hornbostel,
Nashville Tennessean,
4 Nov. 2025
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The president has galvanized supporters or alarmed his opponents across the country.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Watson died in hospice care after a brief illness, his son confirmed Friday, according to The Associated Press.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Jelly Roll has been forced to cancel the final date of his debut Australia and New Zealand tour, citing illness, just hours before the headline show was set to kick off.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Rose tells Shaw that her community is concerned about sacred remains being disturbed.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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The 34-year-old appeared to have deactivated her X account after disturbing posts on her account resurfaced online.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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With each pot, cast iron skillet, and cooking utensil, Gilmore exemplified this longstanding tradition in Black life, negotiating her identity in America and resisting the ills of racial segregation that pervaded nearly every aspect of her community.—
Time,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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That solves a lot of problems, a lot of ills of society.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The lack of an addition to the running back room hit harder on Monday when Chiefs head coach Andy Reid offered a concise, but concerning, injury update on Pacheco.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
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The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act updated the farm safety net and other farm insurance programs, but lawmakers still need to revise programs concerning rural development and agricultural research.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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