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
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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
Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Just four weeks ago, Corey Dean banged his fists and yelled for help for days, without being treated by San Diego County jail deputies or medical staff, before the mentally ill man died alone in his Vista jail cell.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025
In 2008, their mother fell ill on a trip to Mexico, suffering from peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (which can lead to sepsis).
—Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Key to their philosophy and others like them is the belief that people should consider the impact on other species and work not only with fellow artists, architects and other experts, but also with communities to address those ills.
—Laura Rysman, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
Three CEOs in five years Private equity firms have taken over wide swaths of the health care industry in recent years and ill effects on care have been well-documented in independent academic research.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2025
Just four weeks ago, Corey Dean banged his fists and yelled for help for days, without being treated by San Diego County jail deputies or medical staff, before the mentally ill man died alone in his Vista jail cell.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Aug. 2025
Adverb
The agency’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit was not yet aware of anyone who fell ill because of the bacteria, which can cause stomach infections, but said people should avoid swimming between Jameson Beach and the Valhalla Boathouse.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 2 Aug. 2025
In 2008, their mother fell ill on a trip to Mexico, suffering from peritonitis, an inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (which can lead to sepsis).
—Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2025
Noun
When George Romero got his hands on the genre years later, zombies would function as clear metaphorical subjects for society’s ills.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 18 June 2025
Key to their philosophy and others like them is the belief that people should consider the impact on other species and work not only with fellow artists, architects and other experts, but also with communities to address those ills.
—Laura Rysman, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
-
Prater has a sick fascination with serial killers, collecting their trophies and even inviting the most notorious of them to gatherings at his mansion.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The nerve-rattling new A24 drama from writer-director Mary Bronstein, in theaters Oct. 10, stars Byrne, 46, as Linda — a therapist with mental health struggles, a wife to an absent husband and mother to their sick daughter.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
These tools can help detect harmful symbols, explicit imagery or copyright violations before content is published.—
Anees Ali Khan,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
In a time when transgender rights are under threat via a backlash spurred on by harmful theology within church spaces, the call for inclusion — despite one’s gender identity, expression, or sexuality — is both a rarity and necessity within the traditional gospel and Christian world.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Both the United States and the United Nations have stepped back from leadership roles, a reflection of how poorly interventions in Haiti have gone and also the wide range of issues in other parts of the world at the moment.—
Adam Taylor,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
Additionally, over-saturating with water is a poor choice for these floors.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Specifically, poor capital allocation decisions have destroyed significant value.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Aug. 2025
-
After an ominous July jobs report – which also showed that hiring was much weaker than originally reported in May and June – the central bank was widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting next month in a bid to recharge hiring.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
14 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
There’s something so satisfying about luggage that looks new no matter how many places around the world it’s been with me.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The critical temper was no friendlier in the years that followed.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This greater understanding is now being explored as potential preventions or therapies for a wide range of diseases, from H5N1 bird flu and HIV to cancer.—
Simon Williams,
Time,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Myths, folk tales, and negative media coverage mean people often link these flying mammals to vampires or blame them for disease outbreaks.—
Anna Tunkova,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Far from an expression of compassion toward animals, it was inspired by a sense of all fleshy things as evil.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
-
There’s no such thing as good and evil, according to parole boards.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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