Master confusing words with ease
Ill vs. Sick
Ill
/ɪl/Examples:
People who walk in their sleep are often ill.The trial has succeeded ill, Monsieur d'Artagnan."What new misery or ill was this?
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Sick
/sɪk/Examples:
He felt very, very sick.The sick woman was lying on the ground.In the spring, many of the girls became sick.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Ill and sick are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences.
- Ill tends to be used in more formal contexts, while sick is more commonly used in everyday language.
- In British English, ill is more commonly used to describe a state of poor health.
- In American English, sick often refers to nausea or the desire to vomit.
- Sick can also describe someone who is unwell psychologically or emotionally.
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