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
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Recent Examples of ailments
Indicators can be so subtle and nonspecific that doctors tend to misattribute them to other, more common, ailments—which can delay diagnosis, sometimes for years.
—
Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
The registry of ailments that are included in the bill was also expanded to include lupus, autism, Stage III HIV, severe Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 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
Originally Quapaw and Caddo land, the area has long been a place where travelers came to seek treatment for various ailments.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The Valkyries are going into Sunday’s home opener against Phoenix with injuries to Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini – both nursing ailments from Friday’s game – and guard Justė Jocytė still fulfilling her overseas commitment before joining the team.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
The Hornets were down to seven healthy players for the final stretch of games, including Williams with an assortment of ailments.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Sure, George Springer just returned, and Addison Barger, recovered from ankle ailments, should be back Friday.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
The rotation has been marvelous from the get-go despite its ailments.
—Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
The registry of ailments that are included in the bill was also expanded to include lupus, autism, Stage III HIV, severe Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 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
Originally Quapaw and Caddo land, the area has long been a place where travelers came to seek treatment for various ailments.
—Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2026
The Valkyries are going into Sunday’s home opener against Phoenix with injuries to Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini – both nursing ailments from Friday’s game – and guard Justė Jocytė still fulfilling her overseas commitment before joining the team.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
The Hornets were down to seven healthy players for the final stretch of games, including Williams with an assortment of ailments.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Sure, George Springer just returned, and Addison Barger, recovered from ankle ailments, should be back Friday.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailments
Noun
-
Fungal infections, leaf spot diseases, scale insects, and spider mites are among the most common culprits.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
15 May 2026
-
August is when the season begins to ebb, with fewer nymphs around and eggs hatching larvae that are largely free of diseases.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Three cases were reported earlier this week, long after the typical growing season for the mushrooms behind the illnesses, leaving public health officials and mycologists puzzled about why the poisonings have been so widespread and what is causing the trend.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Further genetic sequencing is ongoing today to determine the strain causing the illnesses.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Chambers grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, which has become something of a poster-child of the ills of deindustrialization.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
19 May 2026
-
The expectations, the hope is so high for that prescription to be the salve for their ills.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Olena started with the children, the most vulnerable refugees as well as the most likely vectors of new sicknesses in the theater.—
James Verini,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
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The most sicknesses were reported in Michigan.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Though conditions are more acute in Myanmar due to the civil war, experts warn the chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz could also dent rice production across the region – with potentially huge shocks for food security.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
16 May 2026
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Fire agencies across the North Bay are preparing for elevated wildfire danger this weekend as forecasters warn of strong winds and low humidity - conditions that often signal the start of fire season in Sonoma, Napa, and Marin counties.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Noun
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Ebola is tricky to clinically diagnose because symptoms at early stage of the disease are similar to other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
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At first, hantavirus can feel like the flu, with patients suffering from fatigue, fevers, chills and aches.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailments. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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