ill

Examples

• All

• And we have nothing to show for it, save for some ill feelings and a disintegrating marriage.

  Fiction book (1991)

• You may insult me... ...but never speak ill of my mother!

  Ilsa (2021)

• People speak ill of your business.

  Gussy (2022)

• But the ill feeling, it would spread through the whole school.

  Spartacus (1960)

• Please don't think ill of us.

  Dragonslayer (1981)

• In our dealings with others, we will not reflect the ill feelings of our clients.

  Academic text (1998)

• If any one of you want to pull out now, I assure you I will bear no ill feelings towards that person and will reassign you to regular duties.

  JFK (1991)

• When they do not, ill feelings, motives of revenge, and intent to harm will flourish.

  Academic text (1997)

• Despite Cathy's increasing affection for Heathcliff, I could see from the start that his presence bred ill-feeling in the family.

  Wuthering Heights (1970)

• After the meeting, he spoke ill of his colleagues, sharing his negative opinions about their performance.

Synonyms

U

unfeeling

vsill

13 5.9

Not showing sympathy or care for other people's feelings

is unfriendly with active hostility rather than emotional numbness

U

unsympathetic

vsill

12 4.9

Not feeling sorry for someone or caring about their problems

is hostile in feeling rather than merely lacking compassion

I

ill-tempered

vsill

4 5.7

Easily annoyed and quick to get angry

expresses hostile intent rather than brief or personal annoyance

I

ill-natured

vsill

1 7.4

Being easily annoyed and often unkind to others

is active hostility toward others rather than simply a bad temper

A

antipathetic

vsill

1 8.4

Feeling strong dislike for someone or something

is general unfriendly feeling rather than intense opposition

I

ill-humored

vsill

• US

1 7.0

Being often in a bad mood and unfriendly

conveys direct hostility rather than temporary bad mood

I

ill-affected

vsill

1 8.9

Unfriendly and angry toward people in charge

is a general unfriendly attitude rather than targeted antagonism

A

antipathetical

vsill

9.2

Showing strong dislike or opposition to something

is broader unfriendly feeling rather than sharp aversion

Antonyms

F

friendly

763 1.0

Kind and helpful toward other people

A

amiable

19 3.4

Friendly and pleasant in a way people like

A

affable

16 5.5

Friendly and easy to talk to

Idioms

I

ill at ease

7 5.5

Feeling uncomfortable or nervous around other people

Compounds

M

mentally ill

• Vulgar

87 3.4

Having a serious problem with thinking, feeling, or behaving because of a brain condition

I

ill will

20 5.3

A strong feeling of dislike or anger toward someone

I

ill health

8 3.0

Being sick or having a long-term problem with your body

I

ill luck

7 3.8

Bad things that happen to someone by chance

I

ill temper

5 4.6

A bad mood that makes someone easily angry

I

ill repute

4 7.5

A condition where people think badly of someone

I

ill-treatment

• NSFW

3 6.4

Cruel treatment of a person or animal, often over a long time

H

house of ill repute

• NSFW

2 8.9

A place where people pay to have sex

I

ill humor

2 6.8

A bad mood when someone is angry or easily annoyed

I

ill service

2 8.3

An act of help that does harm rather than good

I

ill-breeding

• Offensive

1 9.8

Rude behavior that shows poor manners because someone was raised badly

W

woman of ill repute

• Offensive

1 9.0

A woman who people think badly of because of her sex life

I

ill nature

1 7.7

A habit of being angry and unpleasant to others

H

house of ill fame

• NSFW

1 9.9

A place where people pay for sex, often seen as wrong

I

ill fame

1 8.1

Being widely known for something bad

I

ill turn

1 8.1

An action meant to help that causes harm or trouble

I

ill-usage

• NSFW

1 9.9

Cruel treatment of people or animals

L

louping ill

• UK

9.9

A serious sickness of sheep caused by a virus spread by ticks that affects their brain and nerves

W

woman of ill fame

• Offensive

9.8

A woman known for having a bad reputation because of her sexual life

How Hostile

vengeful

38 6.9

antagonistic

17 6.8

ill

25 4.8

unfriendly

22 1.9

Surface Forms

Etymology