ailment

noun

ˈāl-mənt How to pronounce ailment (audio)
Definition of ailmentnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ailment In these regions, the predominant ailments are HIV/AIDS, premature birth and birth trauma, congenital anomalies and injuries. — Emilee Flynn, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026 The Sopranos alum also shared that others facing the ailment likely don’t view him as a fraud, either. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026 Some may find the value to be limited, especially if their dog or cat breed is younger or less predisposed to suffer from medical issues or ailments. — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026 Their lines formed chemistry, Logan Thompson was holding them in games and the minor ailments that kept key players out early have healed. — Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailment
  1. disease
  2. illness
  3. ill
  4. condition
  5. fever
  6. sickness
Noun
  • Along with treatment for eligible accidents and illnesses, the policy covers veterinary exam fees, hereditary and congenital conditions, dental diseases, behavioral issues and alternative therapies.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
  • There have been periods when the human population declined because of wars or epidemics, such as the Black Death, in the fourteenth century, or the diseases brought by Europeans to the Americas in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
    — Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Rescued from the streets of Long Beach while battling an upper respiratory illness, Smokey is now on the mend and absolutely loving indoor life.
    — Maryanne Dell, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
  • In June, the trio went on a vacation that was initially scheduled for December and had been rescheduled because of his illness.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of illness
Noun
  • Humor and/or wit feature in your work to address serious issues of the heart or to comment on the socio-political ills of the world.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Hilton has blasted Becerra as taking the state’s voters for granted, failing to hold public campaign events to explain his detailed plans to address California’s many ills.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of ill
Noun
  • Under these conditions, the vision-language model can generate incorrect descriptions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The Moon in your sign opposes Saturn, bringing your needs into contact with another person’s conditions.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • And what timing, just as AI fever has gripped the planet with paranoia centered around our eventual robot overlords.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The most consequential result of the midterms has been to break the fever of Trumpism and to diminish its threat to democratic institutions, to personal and civil liberties, and to decency itself.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of fever
Noun
  • In both cases, the cure is worse than France’s current sickness.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026
  • This could be due to sickness, a death in the family, jury duty, airline flight changes, or other scenarios.
    — Aly J Yale, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sickness

Browse Nearby Words

ailing
ailment
ailments
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Cite this Entry

“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailment. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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