AILED Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

ailed

verb

past tense of ail

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 Yet much of what has ailed Dallas against Green Bay applies to the rest of their opponents, as well, and has left them rarely able to make consistent progress toward becoming a legitimate playoff contender. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 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 Because for all else that ailed the Chiefs last year, a common denominator was the loss of that certain something that starts with discipline and an edge. — Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 Whatever ailed this World Cup, the beautiful game was waiting with its healing powers. — Miami Herald, 12 July 2026 Shingles, folliculitis, and COVID-19 also ailed her during this time. — David Oliver, USA Today, 8 June 2026 The tweaks should fix much of what has long ailed it. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026 With none of the colonialist baggage associated with the two European superpowers, America was turned to, almost as a last resort, to fix what ailed Iran. — Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailed

Verb

No one from the magazine bothered to help clean up the mess, but Camper, Tim and Mike, until then occupying each other by the Golden Age of SF section, responded rapidly.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
Not that those food safety shortcomings bothered rodents at The Blue Store aka Bargain Supermarket, 2901 NW 19th St.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothered

Verb

That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
The new company has nearly $80 billion in debt, with leverage of six-and-a-half times trailing earnings, a ratio that has alarmed investors and triggered credit rating downgrades.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Verb

Troopers even say many drivers are also driving distracted, so that's leading to crashes and injury crashes, especially for pedestrians.

— Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
The sequence has some clever gags, but you’re distracted by the awareness of being narratively underwhelmed.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of distracted

Verb

Opponents of Proposition 40 are concerned that the threat of wealth taxes will lead to billionaires continuing to leave the state, resulting in a long-term decrease in state income tax revenue.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Campaign promises Castro says residents continue to be concerned about development, corruption and public safety.

— Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of concerned

Verb

Cramer also worried about rising rates, which would make capital even more scarce as Nvidia 's Jensen Huang suggested during an interview on Morning Call.

— Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
When the ethics package passed this summer, a few aldermen worried these restrictions could make running for office more complicated and discourage candidates who want to run for local office for the first time.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of worried

Verb

But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Joan realizes that her mother’s vanishing meshes with a larger tapestry of tragedy that has plagued their family over the years.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of plagued

Verb

Taken as a whole, the national numbers reveal an electorate that is unsettled, gloomy and likely looking for change.

— Ari Pinkus, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026
Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of unsettled

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“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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