1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in evils
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ills
The first New Mexico trial on the ills and dangers of social media platforms began in February after a nearly three-year probe by the state.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
And Pearl, while making his team’s case Thursday, unwittingly did a fine job of spelling out the ills of expansion as well.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Hollywood has always been an easy political punching bag–a convenient scapegoat for a host of intractable ills.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Faced with high rates of suicide and other ills such as addiction, corrections officers have long been concerned about the stress and violence of their jobs.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Reform’s pitch to voters is that, for many of these ills, mass immigration is to blame.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
For all its ills, social media can also be an entry point for anyone interested in Chicago history and the city’s varied eccentricities.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
During the 1980s, both tabloids pandered to the racial resentments and fears of white New Yorkers when covering all of the city’s ills.
—Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Winning tends to cure a lot of ills, and the Hornets hit the road this week with two recent home victories to their credit.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
And Pearl, while making his team’s case Thursday, unwittingly did a fine job of spelling out the ills of expansion as well.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Hollywood has always been an easy political punching bag–a convenient scapegoat for a host of intractable ills.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Faced with high rates of suicide and other ills such as addiction, corrections officers have long been concerned about the stress and violence of their jobs.
—Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Reform’s pitch to voters is that, for many of these ills, mass immigration is to blame.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
For all its ills, social media can also be an entry point for anyone interested in Chicago history and the city’s varied eccentricities.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
During the 1980s, both tabloids pandered to the racial resentments and fears of white New Yorkers when covering all of the city’s ills.
—Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Winning tends to cure a lot of ills, and the Hornets hit the road this week with two recent home victories to their credit.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ills
Noun
-
Supplements can’t claim to treat specific diseases or medical conditions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
There are over 10,000 rare diseases — 95% of which don't have a cure.—
Brad Quick,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But as the region teeters on the brink of a new and dangerous escalation, yet more negative consequences – like the evils that escaped Pandora’s box – could soon be unleashed.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Some labor leaders were privately rooting for Paramount as the least of two evils, concerned about the impact that Netflix, historically not a friend to movie theaters, would have on the theatrical ecosystem.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
-
How does falling victim to one of the most notoriously unlikely of all misfortunes reorient your sense of chance, of fate?—
Jacob Stern,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both ailments required offseason surgery.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
These bacteria are known to cause a host of ailments, including listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Guillain-Barré syndrome, miscarriage, brucellosis, chronic inflammatory conditions, reactive arthritis and death.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wilson, who was born in Jamaica and lived in North Lauderdale, was a religious man who put effort into his relationships and was willing to right his wrongs, said those attending the service.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Society tasks her with righting wrongs.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Incompetent leaders and shoddy infrastructure are force multipliers for natural disasters, often turning nuisance weather events into tragedies.—
Mark Gongloff,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The story — told in the colorful, emotional graphic novel that will be published by Z2 — follows three artists on the Seattle scene, tracking their triumphs and tragedies as they are guided by an oracle, the Queen of the Seasons, who narrates the story.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As a result, illnesses commonly spread via milk became less prevalent.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Over half of the illnesses are in children younger than 5.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.—
Austin Mock,
The Athletic,
19 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ills. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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