Definition of illnext
1
as in sick
affected with nausea she grew ill from the constant rocking motion of the boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in poor
falling short of a standard such ill behavior will not be tolerated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

ill

2 of 3

adverb

ill

3 of 3

noun

1
2
3

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 ill
Adjective
Despite exhaustive testing, experts could not figure out exactly why Jackie was so ill. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026 In April, a Cook County jury awarded $70 million in damages in four cases against Abbott brought by mothers who alleged that the company’s formula for premature infants caused their babies to become severely ill. Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Beck never told Nilles what to play or how to play it, which left her with preconceptions ill-suited to Rush. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, clinicians are ill-equipped to predict who will need help. Marie Doyle, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
Large protests are expected and, in a country where migration has become an easy target for people suffering from a cascade of social and economic ills, the gatherings risk becoming combustible. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026 But that also eradicates a crucial option - to mount a show trial and scapegoat him for all the ills of his rule, thus absolving others. Melik Kaylan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
  • Hospital executives have begun reporting more unpaid medical bills, and experts warn health plans will raise premiums further as they're left with enrollees who are, on average, sicker and more expensive to cover.
    Christine Mai-Duc, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026
  • When workers become sick, exhausted, or unable to work safely, productivity falls, disruptions increase, and supply chains become more vulnerable.
    Lucy Siers, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Beneficial bacteria also provide colonization resistance, competing with harmful microbes for nutrients and attachment sites while producing substances that inhibit their growth.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
    Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other lies a park in one of the Bronx’s poorest communities, built on the site of the former Yankee Stadium after the old home of the Yankees was torn down in 2009 and 2010.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Iran’s economy was in a dire state before the war too, with poor economic conditions a key driving factor behind the anti-regime demonstrations which kicked off in the Iranian capital city Tehran in 2025.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Once there, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf watch as the butterfly approaches the outstretched hand of a woman whose face is obscured, before the ominous presence crushes it in her hands.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Aug. 2026
  • These fears, while unfounded, were indicative of something much worse—and marked a new, ominous chapter in the whale’s evolving symbolic import.
    Naomi Skwarna, hazlitt.net, 13 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Shipping traffic remains severely restricted, demonstrating that many shipowners are not willing to risk a possible Iranian attack and underscoring Tehran’s ongoing leverage over Hormuz.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • One pedestrian was killed and another was severely injured during a hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles on Monday, according to Los Angeles police.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The twin springs that gave the Revolutionary War battle its name are no more, inundated by the 1940s project that flooded the Santee River basin for hydroelectric power and flood control.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Microplastics, each no larger than a grain of rice, are formed as throwaways such as water bottles, packaging and fast-food containers break down.
    Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Those enrolled have experienced CLBP due to degenerative disc disease (DDD) for less than five years.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Prices of the precious commodity have swung dramatically from one season to the next, particularly as issues such as climate change, water scarcity and pest and disease pressures persist.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on ill

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!