ailing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-liŋ How to pronounce ailing (audio)
Definition of ailingnext
1
as in fragile
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ailing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ail
as in bothering
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy parents who were at a loss to explain what was ailing their normally vivacious daughter

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ailing
Adjective
Her death was announced to TMZ by her boyfriend Roy Hernandez, who had just this week set up a GoFundMe page for the ailing Chase. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 June 2026 Borba headed home to care for his ailing dad. — David Begnaud, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Verb
So Parker telephoned the base posing as the doctor of Adams’ supposedly ailing mother and talked the young soldier’s superiors into issuing an emergency furlough. — Dan Kelly july 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026 Jon Moxley argued with a conflicted Will Ospreay as Ospreay struggled to find a killer instinct and pull the trigger on his ailing friend. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
  1. fragile
  2. sick
  3. bothering
  4. dying
  5. poorly
  6. concerning
  7. frail
  8. bad
Adjective
  • Sri Sarma of Johns Hopkins highlights how biological neural networks offer superior adaptability, efficiency, and resilience, unlike fragile digital systems.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The miracle behind Cruz’s discovery is that amphibians such as frogs, toads and salamanders rarely make it into the fossil records because of their fragile skeletons.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • People without risk factors generally do not get sick or display symptoms from Candida auris.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The river boat passenger had become sick and disembarked nearly three weeks ago in Pimu, in the province of Mongala, more than 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa along the Congo River, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on Thursday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of sick
Verb
  • Once your child starts spilling the beans about what’s bothering them, be understanding.
    — Jenna Autuori-Dedic, Parents, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Hip still bothering Springs Springs lasted just four innings after issuing a season-high five walks, throwing 86 pitches — only 51% of them strikes — and gave up his 28th home run of the season, the most of any pitcher in the league.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of dying
Adjective
  • For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
    — Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
Definition of poorly
Verb
  • Speaking to voters Of course, there are skeptics everywhere in this arena, not least concerning the two main protagonists.
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There is also a broader issue concerning the commercial future of the World Cup.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of concerning
Adjective
  • Perennially frail, sick, and gaunt, the ambient guitar composer had devoted his life to a sprawling catalog, some 40 albums wide, that resembles a matchstick model of paradise.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • Nebraska has a nearly 300-page index of diagnoses that could qualify someone as medically frail.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 30 July 2026
Definition of frail
Adjective
  • The last war, which began in 2014, left Yemen facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Even worse, Brooks directed him to contact his agent instead.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bad

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ailing
ailment
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Cite this Entry

“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ailing for Spanish Speakers

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