Ill-Sick | Commonly Confused Words
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Ill vs. Sick

Ill

/ɪl/
Not feeling well or being sick

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/
Feeling unwell or having a physical illness

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:

etymology
  • Ill can be a more formal term and is often used in British English.
  • Sick is commonly used in American English to describe feeling unwell.
  • Ill can imply a more serious or long-term condition compared to sick.
  • Sick can also describe nausea or vomiting, not just general unwellness.
  • Ill is sometimes used to refer to a bad or harmful influence, as in ill effects.
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