ills

NOUN

misfortune

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abuse affliction ailment disease disorder evil illness infirmity malady malaise misery pain sickness suffering syndrome trouble woe

STRONG

affection badness complaint condition cruelty damage depravity destruction harm hurt indisposition injury insult malice mischief trial tribulation unpleasantness wickedness wrong

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage aid blessing cheer comfort good health happiness health healthiness help joy pleasure well-being

STRONG

benefit favor friendliness good improvement kindness peace praise right thoughtfulness virtue

WEAK

fortune luck privilege profit prosperity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the video, Pratt stood outside Raman’s Silver Lake home and the city-owned Getty House in Hancock Park, where Bass lives, contending both are far removed from the urban ills that beset other Angelenos.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

In their absence, the three remaining candidates pounded on a wide array of municipal ills, including broken sidewalks, high rents and sluggish housing production.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

"I think we should be able to prescribe singing on the NHS because I think it would cure a lot of ills."

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The temptation to find corporate scapegoats for social ills is great.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

In 1959 several British and French research teams found their independent studies pointing to a common conclusion — that some of humanity’s ills are caused by a disturbance of the normal chromosome number.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson