ill

If you are this way, you are not healthy and may have a disease.

• I feel ill today.
• She became ill during the trip.
• He is still ill with the flu.

How to use it: ill with something (She is ill with a stomach infection.)

Similar words: sick, unwell

Opposites: well, healthy

Common phrases: feel ill, seriously ill, ill with something

Showing an intention to hurt someone or treat them cruelly.

• The prisoners suffered ill treatment.
• I bear her no ill will.
• They suspected him of ill intentions.

Similar words: cruel, malicious, unkind

Opposites: kind

Common phrases: ill treatment, ill intentions, ill will

Bad, unlucky, or below an acceptable standard.

• Ill luck followed him everywhere.
• Interrupting your host shows ill manners.
• They took the broken mirror as an ill omen.

Similar words: bad, poor

Opposites: good

Common phrases: ill luck, ill manners, ill omen

Angry, easily annoyed, or upset.

• He woke in an ill temper.
• Her ill mood lasted all morning.
• Even a small delay made him ill and impatient.

Similar words: irritable, cross, bad-tempered

Opposites: cheerful

Common phrases: ill temper, an ill mood

In a bad, unsuitable, or unsuccessful way.

• The team was ill prepared.
• She felt ill served by her advisers.
• We can ill afford another mistake.

How to use it: can ill afford to do something (We can ill afford to replace the roof.)

Similar words: badly, poorly

Opposites: well

Common phrases: ill prepared, ill suited, ill afford, ill equipped

A problem, difficulty, or bad situation that causes suffering.

• Poverty is a serious social ill.
• The report examines the ills of city life.
• No single policy can cure all our ills.

Similar words: problem, trouble, misfortune

Common phrases: social ill, an economic ill, cure an ill, a serious ill

Damage or injury done to someone.

• I wish you no ill.
• She never meant him any ill.
• He feared the stranger would do him ill.

How to use it: wish someone ill (Despite their argument, she wished him no ill.)

Similar words: harm, injury

Common phrases: do someone ill, wish someone ill, mean someone ill