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
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
Certainly, in the past several years, the app has been blamed for any number of contemporary social ills.
—
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
Despite so many errors, The Information is now the paper of record on the ills of Nvidia.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Avi Schiffmann, the company’s 23-year-old CEO, has been cast as a misanthropic tech founder emblematic of Silicon Valley’s ills.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
There are people like myself who don’t agree with the extreme policies of both parties realizing that neither side has all the answers to solve the nation’s ills.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
An expensive renovation to raise its foundation protected Samy’s studio from the elements; high above it all, the veranda provided a stunning, unobstructed view of poverty and all its ills.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Yet football, which the Ivies practically invented—ills and all—remains a different beast.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead, the future of emergency response should be one in which 911 is the gateway to a more comprehensive set of professional public health and conflict resolution responders focused on the kind of community conflicts and social ills that so often precipitate a 911 call.
—S. Rebecca Neusteter, Time, 23 Nov. 2025
That solves a lot of problems, a lot of ills of society.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2025
Despite so many errors, The Information is now the paper of record on the ills of Nvidia.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Avi Schiffmann, the company’s 23-year-old CEO, has been cast as a misanthropic tech founder emblematic of Silicon Valley’s ills.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2025
There are people like myself who don’t agree with the extreme policies of both parties realizing that neither side has all the answers to solve the nation’s ills.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2025
An expensive renovation to raise its foundation protected Samy’s studio from the elements; high above it all, the veranda provided a stunning, unobstructed view of poverty and all its ills.
—Literary Hub, 5 Dec. 2025
Yet football, which the Ivies practically invented—ills and all—remains a different beast.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 28 Nov. 2025
Instead, the future of emergency response should be one in which 911 is the gateway to a more comprehensive set of professional public health and conflict resolution responders focused on the kind of community conflicts and social ills that so often precipitate a 911 call.
—S. Rebecca Neusteter, Time, 23 Nov. 2025
That solves a lot of problems, a lot of ills of society.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ills
Noun
-
According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but also a public health concern, capable of carrying diseases like West Nile virus.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The process of pruning involves removing dead, diseased, damaged, or crossing branches that can attract pests and be an entryway for diseases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to a whirlwind of emotional sequences, the back half of the season is finally beginning to provide some answers about the Upside Down and the evils that Hawkins has been facing this whole time.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Perhaps the phone call was deemed the lesser of two evils.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
24 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
-
According to local belief, sending a lantern upward helps cleanse a person’s spirit and eases their misfortunes, clearing the path for good luck in the coming year.—
Sarah Buder,
AFAR Media,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But, Diabanté questions, isn’t a world without strife, oppression, war, famine, poverty and all other societal ailments what humans have been struggling for all along?—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Heat had a few of its best players out because of injuries on Saturday, but a few others played through their ailments.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Righting a couple of wrongs that everybody was talking about.—
D. Orlando Ledbetter,
AJC.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Was this award created, to some degree, to right Emmy wrongs?—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Luna is dreamy, while Jane is matter-of-fact, even about family tragedies.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That’s different that the crisis caused when formula produced by Abbott was linked to infant deaths and illnesses in 2022.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
For less severe illnesses, people will usually recover with rest and hydration.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share