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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Fallon then asked if she doesn’t get bothered by being too famous for the cruise.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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Take a break from mundane tasks and escape into your own world, where you will not be bothered.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rinehart’s comments alarmed some AP journalists.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.—
ABDUL QAHAR AFGHAN,
Arkansas Online,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hornets are extremely aggressive when the nest is disturbed.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
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The executions had shaken many Manbij residents, but others—disturbed by the crime and disorder—were grateful that someone was finally willing to take a stand.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In his monologue, Gosling began going through the motions of singing a song about Earth (with a planetary model hanging down as a visual) before getting distracted by pop star Harry Styles in the front row.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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Trump successfully distracted some MAGA folks from the Epstein case and the possibility that someone who accused him of foul play might be legit.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The board adds its input, then shares a version with the individuals concerned.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Mar. 2026
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Throughout his years of development, Connor Hines was concerned that nobody was even going to notice his passion project.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many small business owners have been worried about having to file individual lawsuits to get their refunds because lawyers have suggested that might be the case.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
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Regardless of the user, neighbors worried about the impacts of any industrial development to the nearby neighborhoods, city infrastructure, utility bills and schools within miles of the site.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wegmann said people tend to think of affordable housing in the context of the housing projects built in decades past, which, in some cases, were plagued by crime.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
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Much of the Colorado River’s water begins as snow in Colorado’s mountains, which have been plagued by record-low snowfall this winter.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even the rowdy coda leaves things unsettled.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Kasun Jayawardana, a tour guide in Galle, said residents were unsettled to see the aftermath of a war arrive on their coastline in a country still marked by decades of its own conflict.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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