as in diseases
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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Recent Examples of ailments
Salmonella rarely results in more serious ailments, which can include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
—
Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
This is based on a mix of historical accounts, the discovery of body lice on the remains of soldiers (which carried the pathogens that transmitted the ailments), and DNA analyses conducted nearly a decade ago.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit said many of the plaintiffs experienced debilitating panic attacks and insomnia, among other physical ailments.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Sure enough, as my physician predicted, within weeks of kicking sugar and carbage, all my ailments disappeared.
—Connie Bennett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Thiero will miss the start of the season because of left knee ailments that stemmed from college.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
But Spoelstra downplayed Jakucionis’ ailments.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Guard Mekhi Becton has played just 51 percent of the offensive snaps for various ailments.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The medication is commonly taken for numerous childhood ailments, and it may not always be prescribed for circumcision.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 25 Oct. 2025
This is based on a mix of historical accounts, the discovery of body lice on the remains of soldiers (which carried the pathogens that transmitted the ailments), and DNA analyses conducted nearly a decade ago.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit said many of the plaintiffs experienced debilitating panic attacks and insomnia, among other physical ailments.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Sure enough, as my physician predicted, within weeks of kicking sugar and carbage, all my ailments disappeared.
—Connie Bennett, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Thiero will miss the start of the season because of left knee ailments that stemmed from college.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
But Spoelstra downplayed Jakucionis’ ailments.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Guard Mekhi Becton has played just 51 percent of the offensive snaps for various ailments.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
The medication is commonly taken for numerous childhood ailments, and it may not always be prescribed for circumcision.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailments
Noun
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In adults, physical activity helps to prevent and manage health problems like cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety—while also enhancing brain health and overall wellbeing—according to the World Health Organization.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Specifically, the study found that the teens and young adults required medical care for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression, a physical health condition, injuries and poisoning, and other physical diseases.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Contractors working on the project recently completed pouring the foundation for what will provide smaller housing units meant to make quarantining detainees with communicable illnesses safer and easier.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
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The world’s most popular YouTuber partnered with Disney, Make-A-Wish America and YouTube to grant a Frightfully Fun Wish for 40 kids who’ve battled critical illnesses and wished to meet their favorite content creators.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ratti believes similar operations can be the soothing balm for retailers’ current ills.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
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And officials have long looked to play up the ills of other countries, especially the US, to boost their own image for domestic and, increasingly, international audiences.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pathogens in human poop can remain active for a long time – over a year in outdoor environments – meaning that waste left behind today can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and other sicknesses for future visitors.—
B. Derrick Taff,
The Conversation,
29 Aug. 2025
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All their triumphs, all their sleepless nights, their loves and hates, their sicknesses, their schemes, their rises to power and their falls from it -- all gone.—
Paul Prather,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2016
Noun
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And while mediators such as the United States, Egypt and Qatar play key roles in setting the political conditions for deals, the ICRC alone is poised to facilitate such swaps.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, forecasters said.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
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Researchers should prioritize drugs that are taken to treat serious chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, deadly infections such as HIV, and high fevers.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ailments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailments. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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