as in disease
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ailment
McPherson alluded to Sanders’ Week 3 ankle injury being a nagging ailment during the conversation.
—
Mike Kaye
updated May 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
If your vet diagnoses your dog with an ailment or advises you to feed your dog a specific formula, Royal Canin has a style of food for it.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Collins had written for ESPN in December 2025 about his Stage 4 glioblastoma diagnosis, expressing his determination to fight the ailment.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 13 May 2026
Anna, born at a mere one pound and some change, diagnosed with kidney disease, brain damage and a host of other ailments, is now a bilingual, argumentative, creative 27-year-old.
—Eloisa James, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Mike Kaye
updated May 14, Charlotte Observer, 14 May 2026
If your vet diagnoses your dog with an ailment or advises you to feed your dog a specific formula, Royal Canin has a style of food for it.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 14 May 2026
Collins had written for ESPN in December 2025 about his Stage 4 glioblastoma diagnosis, expressing his determination to fight the ailment.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 13 May 2026
Anna, born at a mere one pound and some change, diagnosed with kidney disease, brain damage and a host of other ailments, is now a bilingual, argumentative, creative 27-year-old.
—Eloisa James, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailment
Noun
-
Over time, however, the disease has spread across the East Coast and Midwest, with diagnoses reaching 35 states.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
-
In later life, this formative programming can increase the risk of not only mental illnesses like depression, but physical diseases too, such as cancer and obesity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Hantavirus is typically spread through contact with infected rodents and can lead to severe respiratory illness, though cases remain rare, according to the WHO.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is caused by a virus that can result in serious illness and death in birds and mammals.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And this one guy at this one firm can't solve all of his industry's ills.—
Sam Yellowhorse Kesler,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
What isn’t debatable is that their blend of talent, experience and mental fortitude left them uniquely positioned to thrive under such tense conditions.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The system dynamically reroutes mission plans, responds to unexpected battlefield conditions, avoids obstacles, and executes tasks in environments where communications may be degraded.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and internal bleeding.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
-
Ebloa is treated through IV fluids and other medicine for blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and pain.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Cruise ship sickness Around 1,700 passengers are being held on a cruise ship after reports of an illness, but it’s not linked to the hantavirus outbreak, French authorities said.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
This was accompanied by sickness, bloating and diarrhea.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailment. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
