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
Weinstein, who has been in ailing health in recent years, awaits resentencing for his 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The pics included a sweet snap of Harry kissing Lili, setting up a game of archery balloons with Archie and driving his kids on an all-terrain vehicle while being ailed by the family’s Labrador retriever, Pula. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 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
  • The first is to dramatically accelerate the pace of basic science, and the second is to accelerate curing disease and extending health span.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • DeVeydt added that costs for inpatient services and pharmacy, particularly costly specialty pharmacy drugs for cancer and rare diseases, remain elevated.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • Palo Alto Networks did that after buying [Israeli startup] CyberArk, but why would most companies bother?
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That woman was truly unbothered, a term tossed around online, but the literal act of not being bothered is impossible for most people beyond the quirkiest, like my onetime neighbor, or maybe Fran Lebowitz.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • But by the first week of September, the Dodgers could no longer argue that his poor performance wasn’t necessarily connected to his ailments.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • ChatGPT is not your doctor, although most people are already using it to find out more information about their ailments, hypothetical or otherwise.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • There are signs that the President is unravelling, in ways that are different from late-period Joe Biden but are alarming all the same.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • Many are navigating divorce, illness, breakups, or a reconsideration of their religious beliefs.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The county’s access to healthcare, affordable housing and mental health services, along with chronic illness and violence within the community, have contributed to threats to public health, according to the county’s Community Health Assessment.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of illness
Verb
  • She was especially disturbed by the emotional vulnerability that someone could exploit when a person believes a relationship is genuine.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Police Chief Paul Joseph said at a press conference on Tuesday that Lieu had a criminal history involving firearms and disturbing behavior.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturb
Noun
  • Now, in The Social Reckoning, Sorkin focuses on the ills of the company Facebook eventually became.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In the story, the duck doesn’t make it, and the now-ill patient didn’t wear any gloves while handling it.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ill
Verb
  • As for Adebayo, the Heat doesn’t seem to concerned about his groin issue.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Unions are concerned the bots — which Simbe claims can save employees up to 50 hours of work per week — could put human employees out of work.
    — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of concern

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ail
ailed
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Cite this Entry

“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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