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ill

ill

15 3.6
A sickness that makes you feel bad
  • noun
  • /ɪl/
translation icon : enfermedad
  • We carry immunity to a vast spectrum of virulent ills, the majority utterly unknown to you.
  • cure ills

Examples

  • Vegetarians, less vulnerable to heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other ills that flesh eaters are heir to, have thrived.

    Academic text (2000)
  • A person like Claire would cure many more of the world's ills than she created by living in it.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And makes me rather bear the ills I have than fly.

    Academic text (2014)
  • And free us from all ills in this world and the next.

    Blog text (4)
  • It's always amazed me how many ills a hot shower can cure.

    Blog text (3)
  • The doctors had told her that she was fine, that her ills were psychosomatic.

    Academic text (2002)
  • I will never understand why physical ills are laudable, but mental illness is shunned.

    Blog text (32)
  • Freed from slavery to the mortal flesh, with all its faults and ills, your immortal minds can live forever.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Romans ingested it powdered to counteract poison, sorcery, seizures, and other ills.

    Academic text (2009)
  • The doctor's diagnosis revealed that she was suffering from serious ills that required immediate treatment.

Synonyms

disease
vsill
2.3

An illness that harms the body or mind and causes symptoms

is a broader health problem that also includes minor disorders and sources of discomfort
condition
vsill
783 3.7

A health problem that affects a person, often long-term

is the general idea for a health problem but not always long lasting
illness
vsill
693 1.1

A time when a person is sick and cannot do normal things

is the general term for any health problem causing discomfort
sickness
vsill
103 1.0

A time when your body is not healthy

is the broad label for a health problem that causes discomfort
ailment
vsill
63 3.4

A small illness that often lasts a long time

covers both serious and minor health problems, not only mild ones
complaint
vsill
  • Specialized
30 5.7

A health problem or pain that a person tells a doctor about

is any health problem, not only those that last or return
ill health
vsill
7 3.0

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

is used for a specific medical problem not general poor wellbeing
crud
vsill
  • Informal
1 7.9

A minor illness that makes you feel unwell, like a cold

is the neutral medical term including both minor and serious problems
unwellness
vsill
8.1

A time when a person feels sick or has health problems

is the term for an actual health problem rather than just a general state

Antonyms

1.0

The condition of a person's body and mind, especially being free from illness or injury

52 3.2

Good physical and mental health that people try to keep

Idioms

6 5.5

Feeling uncomfortable or nervous around other people

Compounds

mentally ill
  • Vulgar
77 3.4

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

19 5.3

A strong feeling of dislike or anger toward someone

7 3.0

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

3 7.5

A condition where people think badly of someone

3 6.4

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

2 8.9

A place where people pay to have sex

1 6.8

A bad mood when someone is angry or easily annoyed

1 3.8

Bad things that happen to someone by chance

1 9.9

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

1 8.1

Being widely known for something bad

1 4.6

A bad mood that makes someone easily angry

ill-breeding
  • Offensive
1 9.8

Rude behavior that shows poor manners because someone was raised badly

9.9

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

A habit of being angry and unpleasant to others

An act of help that does harm rather than good

8.1

An action meant to help that causes harm or trouble

ill-usage
  • NSFW
9.9

Cruel treatment of people or animals

woman of ill fame
  • Offensive
9.8

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

9.0

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

How Severe

terminal
45 7.1
disease
2.3
ill
15 3.6
ailment
63 3.4

Surface Forms

ill singular
ills plural

Etymology

The noun ill for a disease comes from the old word for 'bad' and came to mean a 'bad condition' of the body, which is why people say an ill or ills for sickness. So an ill is a 'bad' health problem.