AIL Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

ail 1 of 2

noun

Definition of ail

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

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ail

2 of 2

verb

ˈāl

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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of 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

Weinstein, who has been in ailing health in recent years, awaits resentencing for his 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The pics included a sweet snap of Harry kissing Lili, setting up a game of archery balloons with Archie and driving his kids on an all-terrain vehicle while being ailed by the family’s Labrador retriever, Pula. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ail

Noun

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are difficult to study, in part because diagnosing the disease early in people is challenging.

— Julie Moreno, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
Younger demographics are being diagnosed with increasing cases of colon cancer, and people of color face disproportionately higher mortality rates from the disease.

— Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of disease

Verb

Palo Alto Networks did that after buying [Israeli startup] CyberArk, but why would most companies bother?

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
That woman was truly unbothered, a term tossed around online, but the literal act of not being bothered is impossible for most people beyond the quirkiest, like my onetime neighbor, or maybe Fran Lebowitz.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Noun

Another handful of Panthers injuries to monitor The Panthers also have a few ailments to keep track of during the Week 5 bye.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
This puzzle is stuffed with nuance, pleasing crosses and a lot of simply terrific, ridiculously evocative stuff — for example, a jarring assortment of lovely trivia intersecting with some hideous ailments at more than one juncture.

— Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of ailment

Verb

There are signs that the President is unravelling, in ways that are different from late-period Joe Biden but are alarming all the same.

— David Remnick, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarm

Noun

Many are navigating divorce, illness, breakups, or a reconsideration of their religious beliefs.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
The county’s access to healthcare, affordable housing and mental health services, along with chronic illness and violence within the community, have contributed to threats to public health, according to the county’s Community Health Assessment.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of illness

Verb

If anything, the University of Toronto researchers discovered, we humans are the ones disturbing our dogs’ sleep.

— Gina Vivinetto, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
The disembodied emcee voice for the performance only asks that flash not be used, and that any photography or videography not disturb surrounding attendees.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

Grimes is a longtime advocate of AI, particularly concerning its use in music.

— Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
The narrative structure is perhaps more linear now, even though this part of the story, concerning Pacciani, spans from 1951 to 1996, covering a massively long time frame.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

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“Ail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ail. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ail

noun

verb

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