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.

Ultimately, a ballot initiative won’t cure the ills that plague healthcare in the United States, said the Lown Institute’s Saini.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

But at the end, a veiled reference to the need to "support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today".

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Complicating Iran’s recovery is a host of economic and social ills that predate the recent war, including a worsening banking crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 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

Without proper training and conditioning—and sometimes even with them—competitive rowers are apt to experience a wide variety of ills in the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, ribs, neck, and above all the spine.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown