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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
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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

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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
Rendering examines how artificial intelligence is disrupting the entertainment industry, taking you inside key battlegrounds and spotlighting change-makers wielding the technology for good and ill. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 California implemented the country’s first Paid Family Leave Program in 2004 with six weeks of leave to take care of an ill family member or a new child. Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Stars as big and ill-fitting as Robert Redford, Sylvester Stallone, Paul Newman, and Burt Reynolds were supposedly in the mix. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Aug. 2026 In the 1990s, Fabares fell ill, but doctors struggled to pin down what the problem was. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
Last month, Kwon’s team, in collaboration with Seongju Kim at Hanbat National University, in Daejeon, South Korea, presented its solution to HBM’s future ills. IEEE Spectrum, 8 July 2026 Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing. ABC News, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
  • As the years go by, babies are born, parents get sick and die, careers are started then ended, wives and husbands are thwarted, and, eventually, sheets are strewn and booties are tapped.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Last August, more than 360 people recently got sick after eating free MBG school lunches in Sragen, Central Java.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • These ads seem to violate federal child pornography laws, since the Justice Department has clarified that AI CSAM is just as harmful as CSAM.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Long-term inflammation in the body can be harmful to your overall health.
    Sunny Sea Gold, HEALTH, 7 Sep. 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
  • The following season, Chelsea topped their Champions League group, but poor Premier League form saw Mourinho sacked in mid-December.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Many are in poor shape, with thin, uninsulated walls, leaky windows, old or broken swamp coolers and electrical systems that can't always handle air conditioners.
    Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • On a narrative level, the whole mad scene seems to mirror the ominous final moments of the previous two Lioness missions.
    Andy Andersen, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In the younger woman’s presence, Rita finds that the ominous ticking clock in her mind goes silent.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • The country, severely affected by gangs and a serious humanitarian crisis, has spent years trying to contain crime without much success.
    Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Corals – which have been severely bleached along the entire Tanzanian coastline, and largely wiped out around Zanzibar – are being replanted, to try to grow new populations.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • With a Blazer If your goal is to achieve a preppier style, look no further than pairing Mary Jane flats with a blazer.
    Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 5 Sep. 2026
  • For those feeling grim about Milwaukee’s local music scene post-The Garage’s closure and no-play list fallout, look no further for artist solidarity than the library.
    Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Additionally, animals carry diseases, such as rabies and leptospirosis, that can be fatal to people.
    Elaine Reno, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
  • People with thyroid disease, kidney, liver or heart problems, or those taking NSAIDs, opiate pain medications or certain antidepressants can actually take in too much water.
    Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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