as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
half of the staff is out sick with the usual wintertime ails
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to bother
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
parents who were at a loss to explain what was ailing their normally vivacious daughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ail
Ben Morse, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
In the age of generative AI, the theft of huge troves of medical information might be even more dangerous, as our health records wind up in data sets that enable off-the-books innovation in exploiting our ails.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024
Johanna Read, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The Celtics removed Porzingis from their injury report Saturday — a positive sign for the ailing big man — but kept him in his bench role.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Noun
What’s more, the age-old phrase the team’s fans have used to describe Detroit’s recent ails – ‘SOL’ or same old Lions – seems to have been banished for now.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
In the age of generative AI, the theft of huge troves of medical information might be even more dangerous, as our health records wind up in data sets that enable off-the-books innovation in exploiting our ails.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 12 Jan. 2024
Verb
Spa Manager Claudia Perez and her team are extremely knowledgeable and will have the ideal recommendations to address whatever ails you.
—Johanna Read, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
The Celtics removed Porzingis from their injury report Saturday — a positive sign for the ailing big man — but kept him in his bench role.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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The fungal disease does not spread from person to person, according to the CDC.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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This field includes liquid biopsy, referring to techniques that process bodily fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva for different disease biomarkers.—
Cat Wang,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
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After years of ‘losing culture,’ can the new-look Chicago Bears turn things around on defense? Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard didn’t bother mincing words.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
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Users do have to purchase such gadgets, learn how to utilize them, and put them on their body, however, which are all steps that many folks simply won't bother taking.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
26 May 2025
Noun
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The Incas had advanced calendars and ceramics as well, and perfected a type of neurosurgery, likely to treat skull wounds suffered in battle, among other ailments.—
Sam Kean,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2025
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The death was attributed to a liver ailment, which veterans said had nothing to do with Siwash’s fondness for beer.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in an email, said that he was alarmed by the decision to cut the funding, adding that many Missourians in need of behavioral health care come to Kansas City.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
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The warning follows a concerning rise in measles cases nationally, with a significant outbreak in Texas that has alarmed public health officials.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Noun
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With this move, the FDA will limit the vaccine’s availability later this year to older adults and those who may be at risk of severe illness, Reuters reported.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement The group’s report presents four main drivers of chronic childhood illness, laying particular blame on the food children eat and their daily habits.—
Alana Semuels,
Time,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Beaches aren’t typically hotspots for these kinds of fossils unless something is disturbing the seafloor nearby and carrying the remains to shore.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
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Solar flares can disturb Earth's ionosphere, for instance, briefly disrupting high-frequency radio signals and leading to brief radio blackouts on the daylit side of the planet during the flare event.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
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The outset was more about identifying the mental health of the practitioner than identifying the ills in society ...—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
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Carmichael is content to share his personal shame while exposing the social ills that have also tried to stop him from being his true self.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Verb
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Regulators and watchdogs have also long been concerned about donations from individuals with ties to foreign interests.—
Brian Slodysko,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Overnight, officials were primarily concerned with high levels of volcanic gas such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that can have far-reaching effects downwind.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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