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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ailing
Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 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
The narrative starts as an older, ailing Alfie is being questioned by a police detective after supposedly winning a fortune by cheating at a casino.
—Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 23 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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The movie flattening Carrie into someone downtrodden and fragile, rather than standoffish and conflicted, makes the whole resolution feel a little too clean.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
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Acts of violence have shown how fragile coexistence can be, and how quickly fear can replace understanding.—
Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Without a promise of pay, many air traffic controllers have called in sick or just not shown up for work.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 Oct. 2025
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Egg prices fell a bit, fewer sick poultry flocks were culled on farms and officials took a breath.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
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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
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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Other corners of the market are showing concerning signs of froth.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
10 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, a federal appeals court heard arguments concerning a lower court's order that blocked the deployment of National Guard troops in Portland.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The figures were outgoing Spanish Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, Santiago Carrillo, head of the Spanish Communist Party, and armed forces chief Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado who, though a frail near-70, got up to order the rebel Guards to lay down their arms.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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The fate of one of the few remaining opposition figures who was still in the country depended on the frail relationship between the Cuban government and the United States.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The rapid escalation of trade tensions sank US stocks on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded their worst day since April.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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Investors are eyeing a stock market rebound after Friday’s trade war flare-up sent the S&P 500 to its worst loss since April.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Browning has thrown eight interceptions in four starts, which was alarming enough for the Bengals to make a move.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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