1
as in diseases
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in evils
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in misfortunes
bad luck or an example of this
the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ills
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
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
The 88-year-old pontiff has been recovering from double pneumonia and other ills.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
The economic ills felt by consumers will be purely in service of ensuring the most profitable companies in the world are never held to account.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
During the Cold War, population control came to be seen as a kind of master key—a panacea for social and political ills.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
For years, watchdogs have noted tech companies have the power to control their platforms’ misinformation, hate speech, and other rampant ills that fester on social media.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
Many patients have literacy and language barriers, or wrestle with social ills like housing insecurity, abuse and poverty.
—Katie Benner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
As with so many of the US's ills, this problem is one that disproportionately affects the less affluent.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025
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
The 88-year-old pontiff has been recovering from double pneumonia and other ills.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
The economic ills felt by consumers will be purely in service of ensuring the most profitable companies in the world are never held to account.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
During the Cold War, population control came to be seen as a kind of master key—a panacea for social and political ills.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
For years, watchdogs have noted tech companies have the power to control their platforms’ misinformation, hate speech, and other rampant ills that fester on social media.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 16 Feb. 2025
Many patients have literacy and language barriers, or wrestle with social ills like housing insecurity, abuse and poverty.
—Katie Benner, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
As with so many of the US's ills, this problem is one that disproportionately affects the less affluent.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 12 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ills
Noun
-
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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These projects lowered deaths and infections while also strengthening health-care systems, allowing low-income countries to better respond to diseases as varied as malaria and diabetes.—
John Green,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, while Corina grew up sheltered in an environment of suffocating caution, her brand of bravery purports that awareness of the evils that plague reality, met with a desire to seek joy amid that darkness, can be radical.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2025
-
That’s a lesser-of-evils solution, though, sacrificing sharpness in hopes of having more life in his legs.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Violence was entrenched as a byproduct of a government that ignored the tragedies faced by those like Shirley Vasquez and her neighbors.—
Cary Goodman,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2025
-
An Interview with Diane Wilson Sarah Neilson Talking to the author of The Seed Keeper about the tragedies of modern agriculture, and restoring Indigenous foods to communities as one way of healing historical trauma.—
Max Ufberg,
hazlitt.net,
4 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Fall is when a lot of seasonal illnesses start going around.—
Elizabeth Medeiros,
Health,
22 Mar. 2025
-
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
-
While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Reports out of fall camp haven’t been super favorable to their offense, and while the defense will, again, be top-notch, a team with this bad of an offense cannot be trusted.—
Austin Mock,
The Athletic,
19 Aug. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Ills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ills. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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