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
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
In the story of how the United States of America came together for the first time, On This Day…1776 has the cure for what ails us.
—Karl Vick, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
At their best, these shows are a mirror for what ails society, typically delivered with a heaping side of melodrama and romance.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
His presence or absence from the scene will not change the fundamentals of what ails Iran.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
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
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
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
In the story of how the United States of America came together for the first time, On This Day…1776 has the cure for what ails us.
—Karl Vick, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
At their best, these shows are a mirror for what ails society, typically delivered with a heaping side of melodrama and romance.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
His presence or absence from the scene will not change the fundamentals of what ails Iran.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ails
Noun
-
Matterhorn Fit treats ailments that affect the neck, back and pelvis, which include sciatica, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, thoracic pain, cervical pain, sports hernia recovery and cervicogenic headache.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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The growing exodus reflects the challenges Bass faces while trying to help some of the city’s neediest residents, many of whom struggle with mental health conditions, substance use issues or major physical ailments.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His approach is to look at what bothers that person the most.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The political rhetoric aimed at ridiculing Canada bothers Johnson.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Combination vaccines are single injections that protect against multiple, preventable diseases and have been used since the 1940s.—
Kar-Hai Chu,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Through her work at Danielle Ashley Group, Alston in 2008 co-founded First Ladies Health Initiative, a far-reaching effort that seeks to destigmatize screening for various diseases and illnesses in underserved Black and Hispanic communities.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Minneapolis — Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, whose detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked global outrage earlier this year, constantly worries about being detained once again, his parents told CBS News in an exclusive interview.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In this sketch, a group of women worries about whether their husbands in the other room are getting along.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In their absence, the three remaining candidates pounded on a wide array of municipal ills, including broken sidewalks, high rents and sluggish housing production.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In his songs, the Virginia rapper renders societal ills in high definition.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But then concerns about animal welfare rose, and the acute public-health risks faded.—
Rachel Sugar,
Curbed,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Such a topic is not governed by antitrust law, which concerns commercial activities.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Finally, smoking deaths may seem to be unremarkable because some of the illnesses that cigarette smoking causes, such as heart disease or cancer, are commonplace.—
Marie Helweg-Larsen,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
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This week, on the mayor’s 97th day in office, a massive crowd gathered in the lobby of the busy Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, watching as Mamdani announced the city would start sending some people with serious medical illnesses to the hospital from the city’s notorious Riker’s Island jail.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Leo moon disturbs unconscious patterns that are ready to be interrupted.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Removing nodules from the ocean floor disturbs the silty seabed that's home to many organisms, like worms and small crustaceans, the scientists found.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ails. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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