Definition of illnext
1
as in sick
affected with nausea she grew ill from the constant rocking motion of the boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in poor
falling short of a standard such ill behavior will not be tolerated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

ill

2 of 3

adverb

ill

3 of 3

noun

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2
3

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 ill
Adjective
Harry’s next major public engagement will take place in London at the annual WellChild Awards, honoring the bravery and resilience of seriously ill children and their caretakers. Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 27 Aug. 2026 And now several dozen people across 15 states have become ill after eating alfalfa sprouts in a new outbreak that involves salmonella and E coli. Dylan Scott, Vox, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Valencia’s blockers are ill-prepared for the level of pressure Chaminade is about to bring to McCalister. Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 27 Aug. 2026 During the early days of the pandemic, Prem and his team dispatched medical staff to Singapore’s checkpoints for virus screening, as well as to foreign worker dormitories to care for workers who fell ill. Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Hualde says that some Pamplona residents rue his early promotion of the festival due to the ills of overtourism the sleepy provincial city is now experiencing. ABC News, 6 July 2026 Large protests are expected and, in a country where migration has become an easy target for people suffering from a cascade of social and economic ills, the gatherings risk becoming combustible. Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill
Adjective
  • Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Sanchez also ordered a meal from Taco Bell, but didn’t get sick.
    Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But fasted training isn’t necessarily harmful to muscle gain, Maroldi adds.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • What’s considered harmful to minors can be subjective, and this is where experts believe laws requiring age verification can run afoul of the First Amendment.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
    Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
    Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Dozens of companies have withdrawn over the past decades due to poor profits, an uncertain business outlook and concerns about harm to their reputations from making arms, especially lethal weapons.
    Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • His mode of reiteration and attenuation is an ominous portent for the future of fiction.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Once a rare occurrence, the ominous signal is becoming a more regular event thanks to the worsening climate crisis.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Ford Motor is increasing production of its crucial F-Series trucks after fires at an aluminum supplier severely impacted output over the past year.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The water supply system for the park was also severely damaged, along with part of a new $208 million water pipeline project that was underway near the ranch.
    Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • By North Carolina’s historical standards, the answer should be no, but the bar has been lowered so much that a trip to a bottom-tier bowl feels like a victory.
    Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Cole rummaged through an archival box and pulled out a notebook that was no bigger than a business card.
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • New findings by a team of researchers from the US and Australia have complicated an ongoing debate over whether a total joint arthroplasty may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
    Mike McRae August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
  • As the disease progresses, people can develop a stiff neck, seizures and coma.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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