ails
Causes bodily distress
Ails means troubles or afflicts, usually regarding health or condition.
To ask What ails you? is to ask what's wrong—what sickness or problem is causing distress.
The word appears mostly in questions or when the cause of trouble is unknown: Something ails the economy, but experts disagree on what.
A bodily affliction
- sicknessBodily disorder or disease
- illnessState of poor health
- conditionState or stipulation
- infirmityWeakness from illness or age
complaint · disorder · disease · infection · syndrome · debility · weakness · malaise
Persistent dull discomfort
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- painBodily or emotional distress
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- throbbingRhythmic painful pulsing
stiffness · twinge · pang · irritation · burning · itching · smarting · chafing
Intense mental suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
grief · sorrow · tribulation · adversity · struggle · heartache · trauma · affliction
Treatment that heals
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- medicineCurative substance or practice
- therapyCurative mental treatment
- healingRestoration of health
relief · antidote · alleviation · recovery · palliative · salve · tonic · balm
Distressing difficulties
- worriesPersistent mental unease
- concernsSources of worry
- woesGriefs and hardships
- grievancesFelt wrongs or injustices
problems · burdens · anxieties · misgivings · apprehensions · unease · agitation · disquiet
malady
A bodily affliction
infirmity · complaint · disorder · disease · infection · syndrome · debility · weakness · malaise · fever
ache
Persistent dull discomfort
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- painBodily or emotional distress
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
throbbing · stiffness · twinge · pang · irritation · burning · itching · smarting · chafing · rawness
anguish
Intense mental suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- miseryIntense prolonged distress
hardship · grief · sorrow · tribulation · adversity · struggle · heartache · trauma · affliction · despair
cure
Treatment that heals
healing · relief · antidote · alleviation · recovery · palliative · salve · tonic · balm · ointment
troubles
Distressing difficulties
grievances · problems · burdens · anxieties · misgivings · apprehensions · unease · agitation · disquiet · restlessness