1
2
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
one of the ill effects of winter weather is the rapid spread of germs as people spend more time together indoors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poorly
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
since I'm ill, I guess that I'll just have to miss that dental appointment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
such ill behavior will not be tolerated
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5
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
the abrupt breakdown of negotiations appears to be an ill omen for this ongoing hostage situation
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1
as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
in those days society treated debtors very ill, even going so far as to put them in prison
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2
as in no
certainly not
you can ill afford to miss another day of work
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1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
chicken pox and the other ills that were once a fixture of childhood
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2
as in evil
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
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3
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ill
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
Her history underscores the need for state law and how the criminal justice system interacts with those mentally ill to be reviewed, advocates told the Journal Sentinel.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Unlike last season, when the Celtics had their preferred starting five active for just 24 games and still went 61-21, this Boston squad is ill-equipped to succeed without its few remaining stars.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
For all their ills, the Chargers are in first place.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
Published with our TechLine newsletter, Rendering will examine 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, 29 Oct. 2025
Her history underscores the need for state law and how the criminal justice system interacts with those mentally ill to be reviewed, advocates told the Journal Sentinel.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
John Elkann, a member of the Agnelli family whose roots with Ferrari go back to the company's early days, became chairman of the company after Marchionne fell ill and resigned.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Unlike last season, when the Celtics had their preferred starting five active for just 24 games and still went 61-21, this Boston squad is ill-equipped to succeed without its few remaining stars.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
No, coach Marco Sturm did not reach back for a 20th century bag skate to cure the team’s ills.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
For all their ills, the Chargers are in first place.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
-
Raimondo Orsi had already gone back to Argentina to look after his sick mother, and Luis Monti had retired.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Air traffic controllers tasked with managing aircraft movements on runways and in the skies are working without pay during the shutdown, leading to more controllers calling in sick and triggering short staff warnings from the FAA.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Specialty cleaners made for glass cooktops don’t contain harmful ingredients like ammonia.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Small settings changes can make a big difference in reducing exposure to harmful or suggestive content.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Ministry of Environment blamed this year’s surge on a poor acorn harvest – which drove a similar spate of attacks in 2023.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rather, the slow start (by Ovechkin’s standards) to this season seemed due more to poor puck luck.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Trying to outrun the ominous presence, Eve will face the darkest parts of herself and uncover what she is made of.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
In a separate case, Jake entered a guilty plea to a charge of willful neglect of a child just two years ago after severely abusing his 10-week-old daughter.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
To the south, Mexico’s GDP contracted in the third quarter, sparking fears of a recession, as the industrial sector, ranging from mining to construction to manufacturing, has been severely impacted by trade tensions.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Cotton Jersey Sheet Set For versatile sheets that truly do it all, look no further than Threshold’s Cotton Jersey Sheet Set that pairs effortlessly with any comforter, quilt, or throw.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But, no matter how good your intentions are, life always manages to throw a wrench into your cleaning routine.—
Kelsey Mulvey,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The result is a hybrid system capable of autonomously targeting and treating disease sites with minimal disruption.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
-
As Hoffine noted, hunger often kills not just through starvation, but by weakening immune systems to the point where people can't fight off disease.—
Nurith Aizenman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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