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
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
In Mussomeli, a town known for its one-euro homes project, Argentinian doctors were recruited to staff the ailing local hospital.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Finally, Irene dreams of dancing on a Parisian stage, but her father’s ailing health puts her hopes in jeopardy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Adjective
Moore’s decision to court the Farm Animal Rights Movement and disparage the work of Maryland farmers appears less like a genuine moral objection to animal cruelty and more like a desperate attempt to recover momentum in his ailing, undeclared campaign for president.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
In Mussomeli, a town known for its one-euro homes project, Argentinian doctors were recruited to staff the ailing local hospital.
—Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
Stephen Curry will be available for the play-in tournament if his ailing right knee allows.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Finally, Irene dreams of dancing on a Parisian stage, but her father’s ailing health puts her hopes in jeopardy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
Adjective
-
The ceasefire is already fragile.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The alignment reflects a transactional relationship in which Washington gains access to strategic resources while Caracas seeks revenue and international legitimacy during a fragile transition.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The vlogger Jordan Cheyenne, for one, wrecked her sharenting career by accidentally posting footage of herself coaching her son, who was distraught over the family’s sick puppy, to make a specific kind of sad face for YouTube.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
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People without health insurance tend to seek less preventative treatment, become sick more frequently, and die younger than do people with insurance.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 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
-
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
-
More concerning, humanin was eventually linked to breast and brain cancers.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
That’s concerning, for sure, considering that Colorado’s 1,531 strikeouts last season were the most in the National League and the third-most in franchise history.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Physically frail, yet in full verbal command, Julian doesn’t talk to Lori so much as at her, pausing only to fire off questions that harden, in midair, into assumptions.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Meyerson had become frail and disoriented by the spring of 2019.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gas and diesel prices have soared since the start of the Iran war, but the situation could get even worse later this year because of ethanol requirements and problems with fertilizer supply chains.—
E.J. Antoni,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Flattening the curve—making bad floods somewhat less bad—feels achievable.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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