ILLS Synonyms: 127 Similar and Opposite Words

ills

noun

plural of ill

as in diseases

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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as in evils

that which is morally unacceptable idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in misfortunes

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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ills Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 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 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 Through humor, the master is about to expose humanity's ills. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 June 2026 Of course, some of society’s foremost ills in 2026 owe themselves to the World Wide Web. — Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 22 June 2026 Ultimately, a ballot initiative won’t cure the ills that plague healthcare in the United States, said the Lown Institute’s Saini. — Kff Health News, Oc Register, 10 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ills

Noun

While there is no scientific evidence that apitherapy can cure diseases or illnesses, it is recommended as a complimentary wellness practice alongside traditional medicine, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
When asked how the candidates would stabilize animal agriculture, Klobuchar mentioned protecting animals from diseases like avian flu and hiring more large-animal veterinarians.

— Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of diseases

Noun

Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
During the War for Independence, the tribe saw the British as the lesser of two evils.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 3 July 2026

Definition of evils

Noun

Deer-Proof Your Garden To keep your flowers from being gobbled up by deer—one of the most heartbreaking of all garden misfortunes—choose flowers that people find glorious and deer find disgusting.

— Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Jessie blames technology for toy misfortunes, getting angry at all forms of technology, even those already discarded.

— Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026

Definition of misfortunes

Noun

In-utero surgery was first pioneered at Texas Children's for spina bifida, and some in utero procedures are performed for heart ailments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Five players also left the field with apparent injuries or ailments during the first week of training camp.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of ailments

Noun

France fans will be hoping his return to the ranks will help right the wrongs of that night in Berlin.

— Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Texas Longhorns Speaking of those Longhorns, Texas will be looking to right the wrongs from a disappointing 2025 heading into this year.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of wrongs

Noun

There are many studies that have unequivocally demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccines decreased hospitalization and severe illnesses from COVID-19 for children and adolescents.

— Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
That can increase the likelihood and progression of a variety of chronic illnesses, Holt-Lundstad said.

— Taylor Seely, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of illnesses

Noun

In addition to public goods, AI will also create public bads.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026
Naturally, the meeting is a flop because no one was prepared, and their spontaneous ideas are frankly fireable-offense bad (a baguette bag shaped like a baguette for Paris?

— Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025