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
Instead, director Patrick Marber’s revival comes to Broadway at a time when these social ails have calcified and the art of the deal determines executive orders. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025 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
The team can address some of its deficiencies at the trade deadline, but the Astros don’t have the prospect capital — or perhaps the financial appetite — to fix all that ails them. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026 No major candidates were willing to risk their careers and challenge an ailing incumbent, who later had to drop out of the presidential race after a disastrous debate performance. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 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
  • In Orange County, its vector control district reported its first disease-carrying mosquitoes in Newport Beach on June 2.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The disease does not generally spread from person to person, but infections can occur if the bacteria get into a building's water supply, including in shower heads, sink faucets, hot water tanks, heaters, cooling towers and other plumbing systems.
    — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 7 July 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • Playing against such younger competition doesn’t bother Crawford.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
  • Install Fencing If all deterrents fail and snakes continue to bother you, consider installing a 2- to 3-foot fence around your property.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • The Red Sox are still waiting for full clarity on the lefties’ ailments, but for now the club has two holes to fill over the final week before the All-Star break.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Vitello said the decision to pull Adames, who missed the last three games due to a back ailment, was precautionary.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Those measures, however, have alarmed privacy advocates, who argue that age-gating the internet would affect all users — not just children.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • That’s alarmed the National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents about 400 nurses and staff at two psychiatric hospitals in Sacramento.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Definition of alarm
Noun
  • If anyone shows signs of heat illness, promptly move them to a cool, shaded area.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
  • Despite some athletes reporting illness afterward, no clear link to the water was confirmed, and the century-long psychological barrier to bathing in the Seine was finally broken.
    — Camille Knight, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of illness
Verb
  • He was particularly disturbed by administration officials' attempts to characterize both as domestic terrorists.
    — Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 1 July 2026
  • The appeal is largely practical, since powders travel well in a bag, don’t leave hands greasy and can be dusted on without disturbing whatever’s already on your skin.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of disturb
Noun
  • Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • That’s actually the theme of an essay that Masha Gessen, who writes often about Russia and its many ills, has asked.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of ill
Verb
  • Recent polling from Gallup found that Americans are concerned most about housing and energy prices, including gas.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Carter is concerned by a pop-up power plant under construction in the area to serve a data center.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 1 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ail for Spanish Speakers

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