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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
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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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of ill
Alison Van Houten, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Those who became ill with E. coli infections consistently reported eating McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers, so the item has been removed from the menus of locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and portions of eight other states.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Most of those who fell ill reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the CDC.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024
Jamelle Bouie, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Many blame it for widening inequality, the loss of manufacturing jobs and a host of related social ills.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ill 
Adjective
In addition to preventing material damage, Wildfire Shield prevents the ill effects of noxious smoke.
—Alison Van Houten, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Those who became ill with E. coli infections consistently reported eating McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers, so the item has been removed from the menus of locations in Colorado, Kansas, Utah, Wyoming and portions of eight other states.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Everyone interviewed in connection with the outbreak had reported eating at McDonald’s before falling ill and most mentioned eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the CDC said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Most of those who fell ill reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the CDC.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
And high unemployment is associated with a broad range of social ills, including higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, addiction and premature death.
—Jamelle Bouie, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Many blame it for widening inequality, the loss of manufacturing jobs and a host of related social ills.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
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All but one of those patients had been exposed to sick cattle or poultry on farms.Erika Edwards, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
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There is no cure for a sick heart, definitely not in Ferrante’s universe, where desire burns down to an ember that lingers, waiting to be fanned and catch fire.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Working out prior to menopause will reduce the risk of osteoporosis in your later years. And avoid harmful habits – smoking and heavy alcohol consumption can weaken bone density and increase the risk of fractures.Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Albanese cited the risks to the physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content aimed at boys.Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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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
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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
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Trump, for one thing, had a favorable set of issues behind him and the Republican Party: Biden had seen poor favorability and approval ratings throughout his term in office, despite scoring several legislative wins, including a bipartisan infrastructure deal that had previously eluded Trump.Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
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Russia has sent two prototypes of its latest fighter jet in service, the stealth Su-57, to China for an airshow, where they were reportedly mocked for their poor workmanship and conditions.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Indeed, across social media on Wednesday, people were hoping — praying, even — that these ominous, panic-inducing spam messages might finally end, posting pictures of thoughtful politicians, or even excited Oprahs, to illustrate the point.David Mack, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2024
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The second silence, however, lasted much longer — serving as the only ominous moment at Chavez Ravine over two otherwise rollicking, victorious Fall Classic nights.Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Adverb
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Ostensibly, this is Wyler calling Penn unfit, and The Diplomat spins it as more evidence of Wyler’s sacrifice, her willingness to do what’s best for her country no matter what.Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
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Fortunately, Saldaña — the main character here no matter what any potential Awards nominations might claim — is an extremely gifted actor, singer and dancer, and throws herself fully into the role.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Monitor and treat chronic conditions: Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, liver disease, or kidney disease can affect ferritin levels.Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024
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This condition increases your dog's risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and pancreatitis, which can be fatal for your pup.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But did the Stanford experiment really offer anything conclusive about the nature of evil?Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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The deity is also linked to earthquakes, thunder, darkness, storms, and death and was widely regarded as the most powerful force of evil in Egyptian theology.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ill
Cite this Entry
“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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