: having or suffering from an illness or injury
providing care for his ailing mother
trying to rest her ailing knee/back
a person in ailing health
—often used figurativelyan ailing company
an ailing economy
Examples of ailing in a Sentence
when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day
he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy
Recent Examples on the Web
Fast-forwarding past all that, Manhunt then moves to four years in the future, when a badly ailing Stanton has been confirmed to the Supreme Court, only to die before being able to take office.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
For many countries, Chinese investment—even with its associated debt burdens—feels like the only option to address ailing or nonexistent infrastructure and build domestic industries.
—Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
Some veterinarians even allow ailing dogs, horses, and other domestic animals to choose their own prescriptions by sniffing various botanical compounds.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Wildlife officials say that anyone finding an ailing pelican should not touch or try to feed them.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ailing 
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Apr. 2024
For many countries, Chinese investment—even with its associated debt burdens—feels like the only option to address ailing or nonexistent infrastructure and build domestic industries.
—Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
Some veterinarians even allow ailing dogs, horses, and other domestic animals to choose their own prescriptions by sniffing various botanical compounds.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Wildlife officials say that anyone finding an ailing pelican should not touch or try to feed them.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for ailing
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ailing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
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