as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
a doctor known for successfully treating patients with chronic back ailments
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ailment
Winger Xavi Simons’ anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury will keep him out for some time, with striker Dominic Solanke also pulling up — albeit his ailment appears less serious — at Molineux to cast doubt over Spurs’ attacking firepower in the upcoming weeks.
—
Mark Carey, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Microplastics in our ocean and brain and our fruit — to name just one such potential source of ailment — are terrifying to confront.
—Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
Another common spinach ailment is downy mildew, which causes yellow or light-green spots on the upper surface of the leaves and a white fungus on the lower surface.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
People are living longer with more ailments.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Mark Carey, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Microplastics in our ocean and brain and our fruit — to name just one such potential source of ailment — are terrifying to confront.
—Hannah Kerman, STAT, 29 Apr. 2026
Another common spinach ailment is downy mildew, which causes yellow or light-green spots on the upper surface of the leaves and a white fungus on the lower surface.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
People are living longer with more ailments.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailment
Noun
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Hantavirus disease is considered rare, with 890 cases reported in the United States between 1993 and 2023.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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In 2024, for example, more than 700 newborns died from spontaneous bleeding in their brains, which could have been complicated by liver disease or prematurity.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Gauff battled an apparent illness during the Madrid Open, even taking a medical timeout in the Round of 32 over the weekend.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include fatigue, muscle weakness, frequent illness and low mood.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
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And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The victim was taken to a local hospital and listed in stable condition.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
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The person who confirmed the FBI’s search was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.—
Eric Tucker,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The most common symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
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Derek Muller, an election law expert, suggests that scenario is little more than a fever dream of doomsday devotees and overly nervous Nellies.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Noun
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City officials did not immediately respond to a question Thursday afternoon about whether any bacterial sickness in humans had been reported.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
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The turmoil within the Star Wars fandom, in Carano’s telling, is a microcosm of a broader sickness.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailment. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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