ailing

adjective

ail·​ing ˈā-liŋ How to pronounce ailing (audio)
Synonyms of ailingnext
: 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 figuratively
an 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
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.
Now that the four astronauts are back on solid ground, medical professionals can better evaluate the condition of the ailing astronaut, NASA officials said. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026 Corey Perry exited the lineup anew, returning to the side of an ailing family member. Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 15 Jan. 2026 The Fed has cut interest rates in an effort to revive an ailing labor market. Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026 Supreme Leader Khamenei is 86 and ailing. Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of ail entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailing was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailing. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.

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