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
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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Utilities are hiking their rates to pay for repairing and replacing ailing infrastructure, costs linked to extreme weather events, volatile fuel prices and the increase in electricity demand, driven largely by data centers.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Adjective
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
Verb
Charlie, home to care for his ailing father after having emigrated to the States some years before, is likewise underdeveloped beyond that circumstantial detail.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Feb. 2026
Utilities are hiking their rates to pay for repairing and replacing ailing infrastructure, costs linked to extreme weather events, volatile fuel prices and the increase in electricity demand, driven largely by data centers.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
Adjective
-
Treading a fine line in Venezuela’s power struggle The amnesty push comes against the backdrop of Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro landscape, with the acting government under Rodríguez navigating US pressure, economic challenges and calls for stability.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Last year, thanks to a Prebys Healing Through the Arts grant, Resounding Joy brought music to 50 participants in Mama’s Kitchen’s senior nutrition program, which delivers free meals to homebound medically fragile seniors in need.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Olsky's mother, under 70 pounds and nine months pregnant, was put in the sick car on the train, surrounded by sick and dying women.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
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Edgar finds them together, gets angry and Cathy gets even sicker.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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
Adjective
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This fragmented model creates friction and quietly drains profitability through unbilled hours, margin erosion from poorly staffed projects and elevated turnover when top talent hits operational roadblocks.—
DJ Paoni,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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The mood today was more tenuous, the industry crowd mulling in the lobby with cocktails, discussing the tail end of awards season and the controversy coming out of the Berlin Film Festival concerning politically cautious juror statements.—
Film Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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In addition, two related proposals would exempt records concerning the decision to designate groups as terrorist organizations from public disclosure.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Catherine number two marries frail cousin Linton, who dies, and later falls in love with the gruff, rough Hareton in a sort of history repeating itself thing.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
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But subtle changes begin to shake up their routines, and Dilma becomes increasingly frail.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators are buried in leads The influx of tips generated in the case – further fueled by the release this week of footage captured by Guthrie’s doorbell camera – is both good and bad for law enforcement.—
Elizabeth Hartfield,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the lack of bigger tax cuts does not inherently make the grocery tax repeal bad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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