as in bothered
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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Recent Examples of ailed
The same problems that have ailed the team all year persisted.
—
Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
That struggling Cincinnati defense has been the cure-all for anything that has ailed the Steelers’ offense in recent years.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Most important, he’s been mentioned by Timberwolves coach Chris Finch as a solution for much of what has ailed Minnesota in the past.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Few would get out of bed with the flu-like symptoms that ailed Jordan in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith is aiming to fix what ailed the Spartans offense in the second half of their Week 1 victory over Western Michigan.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Although Hill later attributed his end-of-season outburst to frustration due to a fractured wrist that ailed him all season and the Dolphins’ lack of a playoff berth, his actions likely hurt many of his teammates.
—Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025
That struggling Cincinnati defense has been the cure-all for anything that has ailed the Steelers’ offense in recent years.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Most important, he’s been mentioned by Timberwolves coach Chris Finch as a solution for much of what has ailed Minnesota in the past.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
Few would get out of bed with the flu-like symptoms that ailed Jordan in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Michigan State football coach Jonathan Smith is aiming to fix what ailed the Spartans offense in the second half of their Week 1 victory over Western Michigan.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Although Hill later attributed his end-of-season outburst to frustration due to a fractured wrist that ailed him all season and the Dolphins’ lack of a playoff berth, his actions likely hurt many of his teammates.
—Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailed
Verb
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Korda was bothered by back pain starting in the second set, but played through the pain.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
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This might make observers wonder why Lee even bothered to introduce the measure.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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These developments have alarmed some at DOT.—
Jesse Coburn,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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The move alarmed some travelers who worried that immigration officers might use overly aggressive tactics inside the nation's airports.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Indiana Dunes National Park Superintendent Jason Taylor had previously announced the decision to truck the sand from the site and said no natural habitat would be disturbed.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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Your sleep was disturbed, and in a big way.—
Laura Kiniry,
Popular Science,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Its glare-free screen also helps keep reflections away so you won't be distracted.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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Symptoms can include being easily distracted, difficulty keeping track of time and impulsivity.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Tale as old as time, as far as the MPA is concerned.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Mar. 2026
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Bonke will likely be a top priority as far as player retention is concerned, followed by leading scorer Ben Bradford.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some lawmakers worried the change wouldn’t actually help Idahoans purchase homes.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
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Some immigrant advocates worried that there was no mechanism to verify that the information posted on the application was real.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Demary’s mere appearance in uniform provided a spark, a lightening of the burden for his teammates, who’d been mired in a shooting slump and plagued by turnovers.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
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She was plagued with all manner of rashes, sores and ulcers.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bay Area institutions, including San Francisco Ballet, have withdrawn from Kennedy Center engagements, part of a broader exodus that has thinned programming and unsettled the arts community.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
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Next week will also be unsettled with a chance of showers Tuesday through Friday.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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