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
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
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
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There’s a big ensemble, elaborate costumes, a book that winks at every Rodgers and Hammerstein inconsistency that has ever bothered you, and, briefly, a dream ballet.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Only people like Dennis bothered to notice.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mertes, a criminal defense attorney, was alarmed by the glut of dead people whose names turned up on a recent list of potential jurors in rural Whiteside County.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
While the prevalence of carfentanil still pales in comparison to fentanyl, experts are nevertheless alarmed by the increase of a substance researched for years as a chemical weapon and deployed by Russian forces on Chechen separatists in 2002.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Courts also accord high deference to arbitration decisions and require extraordinary findings to vacate an arbitration award, meaning arbitration decisions are normally not disturbed or challenged.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Peale was especially disturbed by Kennedy’s prospects.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mohan admits she had been distracted by personal problems, and wishes Robby well on his sabbatical.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Then the waiter gets distracted.—
Laura House,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There had been some swelling in the final stages of her pregnancy, but her doctors weren't concerned.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
The redistricting case concerned Proposition 4, a 2018 ballot measure that required congressional districts to be redrawn by an independent redistricting commission.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Animal rights activists questioned whether the wolf could survive outside the zoo and also worried it might be killed during capture, something that happened to a puma that escaped from the same zoo in 2018.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But, this year, Republicans in Washington have worried that Trump’s nationwide gains with Latinos in 2024 might be reversed, or at least diminished, by his crackdown on immigrants.—
Jesús Rodríguez,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Opposition lawmakers are demanding Starmer resign, arguing his appointment of Mandelson despite warnings about reputational risks demonstrates poor judgment that has plagued his tenure since July 2024.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
There were promising signs of life throughout, though, and the Red Sox did enough to supersede the issues that have plagued them throughout their 9-13 start.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the cold front has passed, the air mass will be chilly and unsettled behind it.—
Anthony Edwards,
San Francisco Chronicle,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The conflict has unsettled the housing market across the country.—
Brad Hamilton,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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