ailments

noun

plural of ailment
as in diseases
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning a doctor known for successfully treating patients with chronic back ailments

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 ailments Typically, those ailments — think flu and respiratory syncytial virus — spike in the winter, and aren’t really seen outside of that season. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 Medics treat heat stroke and other ailments from trailers while an announcer calls out an endless stream of names of people separated from their families. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 During his time in the minors, Mayer dealt with hip, back, shoulder and wrist ailments. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026 In-utero surgery was first pioneered at Texas Children's for spina bifida, and some in utero procedures are performed for heart ailments. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Five players also left the field with apparent injuries or ailments during the first week of training camp. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The investigation goes on to further explain that the CPSC's data demands include emergency room records from a wide berth of ailments, including past suicide attempts, broken bones or even vaccination reactions, as well as identifiable information. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Aging brings humorous yet unsettling realities, from early dinner reservations to conversations shifting towards ailments. — Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 The sneakers have earned glowing reviews from healthcare professionals and shoppers with painful foot ailments alike, lauding their comfort for standing- and walking-heavy days. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailments
  1. diseases
  2. illnesses
  3. ills
  4. sicknesses
  5. conditions
  6. fevers
Noun
  • Regularly cleaning and sanitizing your gardening tools will help prevent the spread of plant diseases.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
  • West Nile virus is the most common of the diseases transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • Many of the chihuahuas are emaciated and have varying illnesses, fleas and other medical concerns, according to Humane Indiana staff.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Lenders, and borrowers, care whether a mortgage can remain affordable through job changes, slowdowns, illnesses or other disruptions.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of illnesses
Noun
  • Alex Pantling/Getty Images What is clear is that no one thinks the changes enacted in either the Championship or League One are a resolution to the EFL’s marked financial ills.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Blaming billionaire wealth-hoarding for America’s ills would poll very well among the nation’s anthropology departments.
    — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
Definition of ills
Noun
  • And while children, the elderly and those with certain sicknesses or medications are most susceptible to heat illness – these temperatures affect everyone.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • At the end of the day, both doctors agree that hotel stays shouldn’t deter people from traveling altogether, since there are always ways to proactively minimize exposure and subsequent sicknesses.
    — Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
Definition of sicknesses
Noun
  • The fact a majority of them belong to people who traveled from another country and the conditions of the desert itself both complicate efforts to identify remains, therefore hindering missing persons cases, experts say.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Relatives of sailors on board the carrier have described reports of deteriorating conditions and morale.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of conditions
Noun
  • Speaking to the Guardian, Florida State University marine biologist Dean Grubbs noted that large fevers of cownose rays historically only went as far as the Chesapeake Bay, with just a few individuals observed farther north.
    — Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Still's disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause rashes, debilitating pain, and fevers.
    — Rachana Pradhan, NPR, 20 July 2026
Definition of fevers

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Cite this Entry

“Ailments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailments. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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