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
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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
Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2025
For a proper diagnosis, email photos of the ailing plant to a professional, such as the U.S. Botanic Garden.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 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
What’s ailing Mookie Betts remains a mystery — his inexplicable stomach illness has left him at a loss for words.
—Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2025
For a proper diagnosis, email photos of the ailing plant to a professional, such as the U.S. Botanic Garden.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail
Noun
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Modern hybrids feature the best of both worlds, with better pest and disease resistance, high production and really good flavor.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
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Soggy soil is a breeding ground for destructive pests and diseases.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.—
Jay Cost,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Supports the immune system and may help prevent seasonal ailments such as colds and flu.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
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James averaged 25 points (51.7% shooting from the field, 38.4% from 3-point range), 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds while playing in 58 of the Lakers’ first 62 games before missing time because of the groin ailment.—
Khobi Price,
Orange County Register,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Inspired by the urgent call from birth justice leaders and alarming CDC statistics showing Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
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Beyond that, Europe and Canada were alarmed last month when the United States split with European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three United Nations resolutions seeking an end to the war.—
Lorne Cook and Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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While Kennedy is correct in his statement that some chronic disease and cancer rates have risen, public health experts said -- and data shows -- that the country has made great progress tackling illnesses, including driving down cancer mortality rates, and that life expectancy is on the rise.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Defense Department report noted hundreds of cases of Navy SEALs coming down with acute gastrointestinal illness, crippling diarrhea, from swimming and training in polluted waters just off the coast of Coronado and Imperial Beach.—
Kimberly Dickson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Indian Ocean is visible through the gardens’ palms, but beach access from the villas is purposefully obstructed—the resort’s way of making sure not to disturb the nearly 300 sea turtle nests lining the shore.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
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The medical team wheels the body out of the cabin under a curtain on a room service trolley so as not to disturb the passengers, then uses the flower shop walk-in freezer as a morgue.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Untangling the knot of pollution in these places is slow work, in part because federal laws don’t adequately address overlapping environmental ills: The Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act regulate only one form and one source of pollution at a time.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
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Musk’s actions have been cheered by many conservatives, who have long accused the federal government of being a breeding ground of sloth and incompetence, where the nation’s ills originate.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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They shouldn’t be concerned that their AI interactions might be monitored.—
David Gucker,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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This was concerning and also shocking because no one likes him.—
The Totally Football Show,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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