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
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
John Harbaugh and his coaching staff have had no answers to everything that has ailed this team since Week 1.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 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
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
John Harbaugh and his coaching staff have had no answers to everything that has ailed this team since Week 1.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 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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Trier noticed that some directors said hello to him, whereas others couldn’t be bothered.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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Still, the simplicity wasn’t what bothered him.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Kim has steered South Korea's northern neighbor closer to Russia and embarked on a large-scale military buildup that has alarmed Seoul and Tokyo.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
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This 32-foot-tall sculpture with flaming red eyes has alarmed travelers for decades, but the story of its creation is even more chilling.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The whales' communication can be disturbed by underwater noise made by humans, and the interference often deters them from certain crucial areas, like breeding and feeding locations.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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For instance, Bella's first meeting with Edward in their biology class is supposed to be this unnerving moment, where Bella is disturbed by Edward's apparent repulsion toward her.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Several reasons were to blame for the scary-low turnout, including a dearth of new releases as well as the misfortune of Halloween landing on a Friday, which meant families were distracted by trick-or-treating.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
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Once written, the script’s fantastic promise distracted its readers from the fatal holes in its plot.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While travelers nationwide panic about the potential of flight delays and cancellations, airlines are not widely concerned.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Nov. 2025
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But such contests typically are a referendum on the party that controls the White House, giving the GOP reason to be concerned.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And the company’s rich valuation has stoked skepticism among some investors worried about an AI bubble.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
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Heading into last offseason, the Guardians worried about the state of their starting pitching.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The idea that a leak of any kind must be coming from one of the cast members is something that has plagued many a Housewives season.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Daylilies are sometimes plagued by pests like thrips, slugs, aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Still, even as much as Sweeney loves jeans, maybe she was unsettled by the outsize reaction to her ad promoting them.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2025
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The post, uploaded to the r/casualuk subreddit, has garnered more than 2,700 upvotes to date, drawing widespread attention from viewers intrigued and unsettled by the unexplained discovery.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailed. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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