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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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
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Recent Examples of ill
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
When the parents’ petitions were denied, the parents crossed the border in a desperate attempt to reunite with their terminally ill son, Amaya said.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 May 2026
ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
But after the former treasurer fell ill, nothing changed, Anderson said.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In his songs, the Virginia rapper renders societal ills in high definition.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
May 2 The German woman died on board nearly a month after the first passenger became ill, marking the third fatality.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
When the parents’ petitions were denied, the parents crossed the border in a desperate attempt to reunite with their terminally ill son, Amaya said.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 7 May 2026
Adverb
Ten more people who attended the wake fell ill.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
But after the former treasurer fell ill, nothing changed, Anderson said.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Noun
Her transgression is one of the worst things imaginable; in a way, what Emma is hiding stems from a societal ill that gets papered over every day.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
In his songs, the Virginia rapper renders societal ills in high definition.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
-
The virus was first detected by health officials in Johannesburg, South Africa on May 2 after a British man became sick and was taken into intensive care, 21 days after another passenger had died.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with a sick person.—
Alex Nitzberg,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
The physical displacement drives the flow of CSF through the brain’s tissues, potentially carrying away harmful waste products.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
None of this makes AI harmful in itself.—
Jonathan Avery,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
This fragmented model creates friction and quietly drains profitability through unbilled hours, margin erosion from poorly staffed projects and elevated turnover when top talent hits operational roadblocks.—
DJ Paoni,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Harper opened a small dance studio, on Forty-sixth Street; business was poor until Bradley was hired and revamped Delroy’s act.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Still vehicle electronics can be damaged from reverse polarity, poor or wrong connection points or voltage spikes from improper equipment.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
-
Also, as the only foreigners present in significant numbers, the North Koreans sent an ominous message about the current state of Russia’s alliances.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Adverb
-
Iran has repeatedly used internet shutdowns during periods of unrest, where access to the global internet is severely restricted or completely cut, making foreign websites and apps unreachable.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
Conducting a soil test will eliminate the guesswork when choosing the right type and amount of fertilizer for your trees, as using too much fertilizer or the incorrect type can severely damage them.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
Adverb
-
The original church is no longer standing, but archaeologists have teamed with members of the current congregation to ensure their history is properly preserved.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
From the auroras above Yellowknife to the desert skies over Moab, travelers are booking trips specifically to see the Milky Way, meteor showers, eclipses and the constellations their hometowns no longer reveal.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Hantavirus disease is considered rare, with 890 cases reported in the United States between 1993 and 2023.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
In 2024, for example, more than 700 newborns died from spontaneous bleeding in their brains, which could have been complicated by liver disease or prematurity.—
Lee Hutchinson,
ArsTechnica,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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