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 tweaks should fix much of what has long ailed it.
—
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Martin did not specify what ailed her, but since comments were left on, other people spoke on her behalf.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 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
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
Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2026
Martin did not specify what ailed her, but since comments were left on, other people spoke on her behalf.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailed
Verb
-
But former captain Landon Donovan is bothered by the fact that no American side since 2002 has won a knockout-round game and reached the quarterfinals.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Be specific about what behaviors bothered the rest of the group, and tell him no one is willing to travel with her again.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The Lebanese government was alarmed by Israeli troops crossing its Litani River last month.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
-
The unprecedentedly large numbers of killings alarmed Western governments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Charges against the ambulance thief — who was emotionally disturbed, according to a police source — were pending Thursday.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Shaina was fascinated by Greek mythology but disturbed by the concept of other Gods.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In my memory, she’s often distracted, looking out the window.—
Andrea Bajani,
New Yorker,
7 June 2026
-
Try not to become too distracted by the pools of water surrounded by large boulders.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Across 2025-26, there are few outstanding contenders — a reflection upon, at least as far as the Premier League is concerned, a Newcastle campaign riddled with inconsistency and underperformance (for the most part).—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Persistent high interest rates also present a challenge since electrification benefits play out over time and high interest rates can spook companies concerned about short-term returns (or even survival).—
Justin Worland,
Time,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Labor interests, in particular, worried that a private Pinnacol would end up raising rates and leaving high-risk industries, such as construction, unable to afford workers’ comp insurance.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
But those lot rents have slowly increased across the state and have priced out some retirees, leaving Good Samaritan residents worried the change in ownership may push them out too.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The new officers will take their leadership positions amid strength in Tyson Foods’ chicken and prepared foods segments, while the beef segment has been plagued by multi-million dollar operating losses.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
-
In Seasons 1-4, that vicar is Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a jazz enthusiast plagued by memories of WWII who offers unsolicited insights to gruff and initially ungrateful Det.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The borrowing is heavily long-dated, reflecting the multi-decade life the companies assign to their data centers, which loads more interest-rate sensitivity onto buyers at a time when the direction of rates is unsettled.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
The uncertainty on election night capped a race that remained crowded and unsettled to the end.—
Marisa Lagos,
NPR,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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