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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of ill
Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Italian media reported that the Dear Diary and The Son’s Room filmmaker had fallen ill in the afternoon and been taken to Rome’s San Camillo Hospital, where he was operated on immediately.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
In the current measles epidemic in Texas, the vast majority of people falling ill are unvaccinated.
—Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 25 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for ill
Adjective
By the end of August 2020, more than 2,200 prisoners and 270 staff members at San Quentin had fallen ill.
—Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Italian media reported that the Dear Diary and The Son’s Room filmmaker had fallen ill in the afternoon and been taken to Rome’s San Camillo Hospital, where he was operated on immediately.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Co-leader Chris Difford has apparently taken ill, although the less Squeeze-attentive parts of the audience may not have noticed, since primary lead singer Glenn Tilbrook is holding down the fort quite effectively.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
In the current measles epidemic in Texas, the vast majority of people falling ill are unvaccinated.
—Daniel Pastula, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
The symbolic surprise of the week came from Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, where the designer Rei Kawakubo startled the audience if only because this was really the sole show that seemed, through its clothes, to acknowledge the broader ills of the world.
—Jacob Gallagher, New York Times, 25 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
-
This has not been a good week for United, which was also accused of trying to shut off the ventilator of a sick one-year-old child.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
For the past week and a half, the phone has been ringing off the hook at SeaWorld’s rescue program as an algae bloom in coastal waters has caused a surge of sick marine mammals and birds.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Make sure to not add dyes or sweeteners, which can be harmful to hummingbirds.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Our biochemical response to that type of stress is to release cortisol which eventually leads to the harmful downstream effects on our bodies, such as high blood pressure.—
Andrea Kane,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Story will be a free agent and at this stage why would an accomplished player stay with the poorly run Rockies?—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
27 Mar. 2021
Adjective
-
There’s a real debate to be had about what responsibility better-off neighborhoods like Hyde Park have to help solve humanitarian problems that often are laid at the feet of poorer areas.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The strong United cohort, almost entirely comprised of dominant sides under Ferguson, has not shied away from criticising the club, players and managers when results have been poor.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Living in this area means constantly being on high alert when the weather turns ominous.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The rest of the night wasn’t so bleak, but the ominous start did accurately forecast the result.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
3 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
At nearly $100 off, the Essential Curve Shoulder Bag is the perfect addition to your spring packing list, no matter the destination, and its casual bohemian style will instantly make any outfit appear relaxed and vacation-ready.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Trump will declare victory no matter what, of course.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Millions of Americans depend on our nation's research institutions for treatments and cures to the diseases that devastate families every day.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Soggy soil is a breeding ground for destructive pests and diseases.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Here, doing nothing when evil is committed is its own form of evil.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Together, the two men battle the forces of evil, each other and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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