1
2
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
one of the ill effects of winter weather is the rapid spread of germs as people spend more time together indoors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in poorly
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
since I'm ill, I guess that I'll just have to miss that dental appointment
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4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
such ill behavior will not be tolerated
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5
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
the abrupt breakdown of negotiations appears to be an ill omen for this ongoing hostage situation
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1
as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
in those days society treated debtors very ill, even going so far as to put them in prison
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2
as in no
certainly not
you can ill afford to miss another day of work
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1
as in disease
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
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2
as in evil
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
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3
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of ill
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Thirty-five of the roughly 800 people on board had become ill with norovirus.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2025
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Your article on the matter is filled with bias and your effort to somehow classify Dodgers fans as Trump haters is ill-served and demeaning.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
John Bacon, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2025
Short on resources and caregivers, communities struggled to create makeshift hospitals and find healthy residents to nurse the ill.
—Katherine A. Foss, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
The proposed Miami-Dade ordinance came in the wake of the death of 29-year-old farmworker Efraín López García who became ill while picking fruit on a Homestead farm on a day of record-breaking heat and died in July 2023.
—Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Thirty-five of the roughly 800 people on board had become ill with norovirus.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2025
Adverb
However, the pattern shifted drastically when the wife was the one who fell ill.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Your article on the matter is filled with bias and your effort to somehow classify Dodgers fans as Trump haters is ill-served and demeaning.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
The pope also thanked staff at the hospital who aided his recovery from double-pneumonia and other ills, the Vatican said.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2025
Short on resources and caregivers, communities struggled to create makeshift hospitals and find healthy residents to nurse the ill.
—Katherine A. Foss, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
-
The band canceled these tour dates due to singer and guitarist DeLonge getting sick.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2025
-
His mother was still sick, and Mr. Sancho-Persad started working as her caregiver in the morning for $18.75 an hour, paid through Medicaid, while still driving his cab at night.—
Jonah Markowitz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Shiny and minty, these balms provide a gloss-like effect while protecting your lips from the sun’s harmful rays.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The debate over the law centers on balancing accountability for harmful content with the risks of censorship and stifled innovation.—
Daryl Lim,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Both the United States and the United Nations have stepped back from leadership roles, a reflection of how poorly interventions in Haiti have gone and also the wide range of issues in other parts of the world at the moment.—
Adam Taylor,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
Road conditions are rapidly deteriorating, with the percentage of roads in poor condition expected to double in two years.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
-
But academic research has consistently demonstrated that stadiums are poor drivers of economic growth and an analysis published last month found stadium projects spur little growth in local construction industries.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The fall in the dollar and rise in bond yields that went with it have been truly ominous.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Your outlook for 2025: To keep moving forward, on and on, no matter what.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Unlike thong sandals or mules, these project a more sophisticated appearance, perfect for elevating any outfit, no matter how simple.—
Renata Joffre,
Glamour,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
However, in the U.S., the CDC has concluded there is no evidence that pesticides are effective in preventing these diseases and does not recommend this practice.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
-
The Harmattan facilitates the spread of diseases, such as influenza.—
Christophe Lavaysse,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Valentin looking evil as hell in his green collar :) Chelsea’s bright yellow caftan is so hopeful and so sad, somehow.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, celebrates the beginning of spring and the the triumph of good over evil.—
Dominick Williams,
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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