ill afford
idiom
: to be unable to afford : to be unable to do (something) without having problems or being seriously harmed
She bought a new car, which she could ill afford.
We can ill afford more bad publicity.
Examples of ill afford in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With fears of tariffs bringing about a potential recession and the stock market tanking, Trump can ill afford another setback with voters.
—
Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Oil and gas revenues support about a third of Russia’s state budget and are therefore crucial to its ability to prosecute the war in Ukraine; Moscow can ill afford a large drop in oil prices.
—Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2025
Already in something of a limbo state as the deal gets resolved, the company could ill afford to lose carriage on a major pay-TV provider.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
However, getting the best version of him may require a year’s worth of patience on top of lavish wages — two resources U.S. Soccer can ill afford to waste.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 12 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for ill afford
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Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
Oil and gas revenues support about a third of Russia’s state budget and are therefore crucial to its ability to prosecute the war in Ukraine; Moscow can ill afford a large drop in oil prices.
—Hanna Notte, Foreign Affairs, 27 Feb. 2025
Already in something of a limbo state as the deal gets resolved, the company could ill afford to lose carriage on a major pay-TV provider.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 15 Feb. 2025
However, getting the best version of him may require a year’s worth of patience on top of lavish wages — two resources U.S. Soccer can ill afford to waste.
—Jeff Rueter, The Athletic, 12 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for ill afford
Cite this Entry
“Ill afford.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ill%20afford. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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