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
One dares to hope that Hollywood, for all its current ills, may finally be turning a corner, reverting back to when new ideas were held at a premium.
—
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
In their assessments, desegregation and the passage of time have cured all of America’s racial ills.
—Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Macbeth, also an unstable Scottish king, blames the witches for the ills caused by his own murderous decisions.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
The Annunciation Church attack breaks a boundary - namely, that children should be spared from society's typical ills.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Among those who came to view his immigration proceedings on Tuesday, but not allowed in, were Haitian bloggers and activists who blame him for the country’s ills.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
For political operatives, the crafting of partisan redistricting maps is the miracle elixir that cures party ills and keeps politicians entrenched for generations.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Conspiracy theories and simplistic sloganeering popular at the time tended to blame Iran’s ills solely on colonialism or capitalism.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The 88-year-old pontiff has been recovering from double pneumonia and other ills.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
In their assessments, desegregation and the passage of time have cured all of America’s racial ills.
—Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Macbeth, also an unstable Scottish king, blames the witches for the ills caused by his own murderous decisions.
—Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 3 Sep. 2025
The Annunciation Church attack breaks a boundary - namely, that children should be spared from society's typical ills.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Among those who came to view his immigration proceedings on Tuesday, but not allowed in, were Haitian bloggers and activists who blame him for the country’s ills.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
For political operatives, the crafting of partisan redistricting maps is the miracle elixir that cures party ills and keeps politicians entrenched for generations.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
Conspiracy theories and simplistic sloganeering popular at the time tended to blame Iran’s ills solely on colonialism or capitalism.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
The 88-year-old pontiff has been recovering from double pneumonia and other ills.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ills
Noun
-
Parents will be especially alarmed and this will place terrible burdens on pediatricians who will need to assuage their worries in order to provide important protections against serious and sometimes fatal diseases.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Nurabot is currently being piloted in Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan, on a ward that treats diseases associated with the lungs, face and neck, including lung cancer and asthma.—
Rebecca Cairns,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Instead of turning the actual evils into metaphors.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The format, tone, and structure of a reality-TV show do not leave space for genuine critiques of its evils.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
But since June 13th—also the date when the Mets’ major misfortunes began—the Yankees have had a losing record, and have tumbled out of first place.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
-
But as much as Nashville artists love to dissect their misfortunes in song, Monroe has gone in almost the opposite direction with her latest project.—
Nancy Kruh,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Practitioners and patients alike have realized that there is no magical pill that treats all ailments for everyone.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Quarterback Brock Purdy has shoulder and toe ailments and will sit out at least the next two games.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Note, however, that although the initial criticism is what spurred this reaction, two wrongs never make a right.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
This does not mean genuine wrongs should be dismissed.—
Jonathan Alpert,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The flag has been ordered to half-staff following major tragedies, such as the September 11 Attacks and the 2012 Newtown school shooting.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But anyone who responds to preventable tragedies like this—tragedies that over time begin to erode the very fabric of our country—by refusing to face the problem of gun violence and crime head-on is missing the point.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Children suffering from malnutrition can be more susceptible to contracting other illnesses, and children with preexisting conditions can be more vulnerable to becoming malnourished, experts say.—
Pablo Robles,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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