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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ailing
Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Appointing Bellettini would be one of the first and most crucial decisions made by incoming Kering CEO Luca de Meo, who last week vowed to start implementing his turnaround plan for the ailing French luxury group before the end of this year.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2025
Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Biglari’s vision for Steak ‘n Shake was to revitalize the ailing brand by implementing tighter cost controls, improved service, and a more entrepreneurial mindset.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Adjective
Those ailing leaves can be a sign of deeper problems such as rotting roots or a bug infestation.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Appointing Bellettini would be one of the first and most crucial decisions made by incoming Kering CEO Luca de Meo, who last week vowed to start implementing his turnaround plan for the ailing French luxury group before the end of this year.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
An intimate look at the life of soon-to-be 18-year-old Bruno, whose youthful impulses and longings stand in contradiction to the responsibility of being the sole carer for his ailing 86-year-old grandmother.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Biglari’s vision for Steak ‘n Shake was to revitalize the ailing brand by implementing tighter cost controls, improved service, and a more entrepreneurial mindset.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
Adjective
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Netanyahu, meanwhile, stands accused of having repeatedly turned down earlier deals with Hamas to appease extreme elements within his fragile coalition government.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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With new tariffs, shifting brand strategies and a fragile financial system, the stakes could not be higher for Bangladesh in 2025.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But as that incident demonstrated, even a small number of controllers calling in sick can have a big impact.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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Austin Hedges gets sick to his stomach before postseason games.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Even scrambling around, his knee was bothering him.—
Michael Nowels,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
17 Aug. 2025
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The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.—
Maggie Astor,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The idea of Maggie’s untrustworthiness has already been planted in an early scene, mid-party, involving a bathroom cabinet and a hidden envelope conveniently filled with old news clippings concerning dark secrets in Alma’s past.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some exceptions are expected to be included in the rule concerning avoiding conflict with appraisal requirements or other state laws,, including if the award was made without authority, is not compliant with the appraisal provision, or if fraud, accident, or a material mistake was involved.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
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Today’s over-85 cohort may also be frailer and sicker than the oldest-old were 30 years ago, Gill added, because contemporary medicine can keep people alive longer.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The game didn’t start bad for the Giants.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But also alarming is that government officials don’t seem to take seriously the need to justify the reasons for their use of force, which should only be wielded to protect the rights of Americans.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
22 Sep. 2025
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Bond yields leaking higher since the Fed cut rates a quarter-point on Wednesday is not atypical, and — so far — is not alarming equity markets, inflation watchdogs or fiscal hawks.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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