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
Murat Ates, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Vladar can get a few extra days off to rest whatever ails him if the Flyers build off their 5-2 win in Game 3 and complete the sweep Saturday in Philadelphia.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
If that's the case, though, the food will cure what ails you.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
What ails her is not clear, but someone has a hint.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
But even if nothing ails you, take the waters anyway.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026
Providing service to others seems like a good cure for what ails us today — a true lack of altruism and looking out for each other regardless of race, gender or religion, etc.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
For what ails these Timberwolves, Anderson may just be the antidote.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
No amount of what-ifs, however, will fix what ails USC during its final three games.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
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
None of them addresses enough holes elsewhere on the roster to fix all that ails the Jets.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Vladar can get a few extra days off to rest whatever ails him if the Flyers build off their 5-2 win in Game 3 and complete the sweep Saturday in Philadelphia.
—CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
If that's the case, though, the food will cure what ails you.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
What ails her is not clear, but someone has a hint.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
But even if nothing ails you, take the waters anyway.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026
Providing service to others seems like a good cure for what ails us today — a true lack of altruism and looking out for each other regardless of race, gender or religion, etc.
—Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
For what ails these Timberwolves, Anderson may just be the antidote.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
No amount of what-ifs, however, will fix what ails USC during its final three games.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ails
Noun
-
Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
And if someone bothers Anaia, Racine is there to fight for her.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
An unconventional structure or new approach bothers them not a whit.—
Mac Barnett,
Longreads,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Fungal infections, leaf spot diseases, scale insects, and spider mites are among the most common culprits.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
August is when the season begins to ebb, with fewer nymphs around and eggs hatching larvae that are largely free of diseases.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But this ambitious vision, which many in the sector think will become reality sooner or later, worries atmospheric researchers.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Although consumer spending — which accounts for roughly two-thirds of economic activity — has largely held up this year, Ajilore worries that could change quickly.—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Neil Chilson, head of AI policy at the Abundance Institute, tells me what concerns him about this power struggle.—
Benjamin Guggenheim,
Washington Post,
12 May 2026
-
The story concerns a grieving father who, after losing his wife, sends a message out into the stars…and something out there starts to talk back.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Further genetic sequencing is ongoing today to determine the strain causing the illnesses.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The worms thrash and move erratically with a snake-like motion that disturbs the topsoil.—
Maria Braganini,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
There are lots of things weightlessness disturbs, even in the short run.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ails. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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