as in ailments
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
as in bothers
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ails
Noun
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Burning coal also creates lung-damaging smog and emits brain-damaging mercury and soot pollution that triggers respiratory ailments and shaves years off lives.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025 -
Native Americans have used these berries to treat a range of ailments, including colds, toothaches and fevers.—
Vicky Hallett,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Bird droppings are also common on feeders, which can increase the spread of avian diseases among the bird population.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2025
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While doctors say vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of measles and other diseases, preventive efforts like isolating sick people and notifying those who have been exposed to them are also key.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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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
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The book doesn’t find a clear answer to its titular question but breaks a taboo by searching for one in choices made by Iranians themselves and not just ills done to them by outsiders.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Fall is when a lot of seasonal illnesses start going around.—
Elizabeth Medeiros,
Health,
22 Mar. 2025
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Among the medical conditions for which people can access benefits, mental health ranks the highest compared to those with disabilities or long-term medical illnesses.—
BYPrarthana Prakash,
Fortune Europe,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Measles also causes fevers and red, watery eyes and can lead to complications such as pneumonia or, in rare cases, brain damage and death.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
4 Mar. 2025
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They are associated with fevers, chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, pregnancy, or a postpartum or immunocompromising condition.—
Cathy Nelson,
Verywell Health,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The show, so far, has existed in two timelines — the past in the wilderness and the present as the past haunts them.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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That incident still haunts Hood, who organized the action after the police shooting of two unarmed Black men.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Ails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ails. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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