as in ailments
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
half of the staff is out sick with the usual wintertime ails
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in bothers
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
parents who were at a loss to explain what was ailing their normally vivacious daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ails
Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The long era of sitting quietly while the doctor pronounces what ails us and what to do about it is ending.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
All the while, the current landscape of Trumpists—populists, nationalists, nativists—continue to view him as the embodiment of all that ails political elites.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
The idea of being wrapped in a little wood house feels like the cure for whatever ails you.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
There simply doesn't seem to be a quick fix available for what ails the Texans offense.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
Tatis is expected to stay home at least another day, as the Padres await results of tests to see what ails him.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Naming what ails you is not the same as overcoming it.
—Hena Bryan, Refinery29, 26 Aug. 2025
No, this is not an instant fix for everything that ails Bungie.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
City may well have believed that a summer break would cure their ails and time would simply consign last season’s mid-season collapse to room 101, but the rest of the league does not forget.
—Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
His presence or absence from the scene will not change the fundamentals of what ails Iran.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
The long era of sitting quietly while the doctor pronounces what ails us and what to do about it is ending.
—Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 23 Nov. 2025
All the while, the current landscape of Trumpists—populists, nationalists, nativists—continue to view him as the embodiment of all that ails political elites.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Nov. 2025
The idea of being wrapped in a little wood house feels like the cure for whatever ails you.
—Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
There simply doesn't seem to be a quick fix available for what ails the Texans offense.
—Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
Tatis is expected to stay home at least another day, as the Padres await results of tests to see what ails him.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Naming what ails you is not the same as overcoming it.
—Hena Bryan, Refinery29, 26 Aug. 2025
No, this is not an instant fix for everything that ails Bungie.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ails
Noun
-
Later, the state spent $6 million to seal the brick building, after state workers complained of respiratory ailments and asthma.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In 2010, two years before his death at 82 from complications of heart and lung ailments, Reisman founded Table Tennis Nation.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios defendants, asked Lively if negative publicity bothers her.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
That relentless competence obviously drives people crazy, but the other part that bothers opposing fans is the understanding that their clubs could do more.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The development of antibiotics, vaccines and advanced surgical techniques has virtually eliminated many diseases that once killed thousands annually.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
McLaughlin said the company chose to focus on these diseases partly because of their outsized impact on patients.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Reyes worries the winter storm gripping North Texas will have serious consequences for her finances.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Isabel worries about a golf ball hitting her amid the customers’ wild swings.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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During the 1980s, both tabloids pandered to the racial resentments and fears of white New Yorkers when covering all of the city’s ills.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Winning tends to cure a lot of ills, and the Hornets hit the road this week with two recent home victories to their credit.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sure enough, the pounds start falling off, at a rate that concerns the increasingly interested Alanya.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
28 Jan. 2026
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By making the characters’ concerns full-length musical numbers, High School Musical acknowledges just how all encompassing these problems can feel.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Washing bananas helps prevent fruit flies and reduces your risk of any illnesses.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
No illnesses linked to products in this recall have been reported to date.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Though the time change allows for more daylight in the spring and summer evenings, many have argued the change disturbs the body's circadian rhythms and has significant health drawbacks.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, the downward airflow from the drone propellers disturbs the dust, increasing contamination risks, and the team had to develop additional safety measures to mitigate them.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ails. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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