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
Relevance
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
David Begnaud,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Some ailing vessels are delivered here with every intention of flying again, like an elderly relative sent to a short-term-care facility.
—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
The slow-burn thriller is partially based on a 17th century ballad in which the heroic outlaw’s cousin, a malevolent prioress, bleeds the older, ailing Robin to death under the guise of the ancient medical treatment known as bloodletting.
—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Adjective
Borba headed home to care for his ailing dad.
—
David Begnaud,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Some ailing vessels are delivered here with every intention of flying again, like an elderly relative sent to a short-term-care facility.
—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Verb
The perpetually and publicly ailing 74-year-old Weinstein’s third New York rape trial ended in mid-May with a deadlocked jury.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
The slow-burn thriller is partially based on a 17th century ballad in which the heroic outlaw’s cousin, a malevolent prioress, bleeds the older, ailing Robin to death under the guise of the ancient medical treatment known as bloodletting.
—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
Adjective
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Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to.
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Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs.
Adjective
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If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.
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But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
Verb
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Travis was snapped having a blast bothering Jason as the duo attended a match between Jupiter Links GC and The Bay Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 3.
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For now, the Royals hope to figure out exactly what’s bothering him.
Adjective
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What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
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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.
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.
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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.
Verb
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Last month, six women interviewed by the Times described concerning behavior by Platner, including excessive drinking, infidelity, and, in one account, physical intimidation.
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Most concerning to Slok is what happens if this gap grows as AI deployment and productivity gains continue to sputter.
Adjective
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The law had said medically frail people include those who have substance use disorders, disabilities or serious medical conditions.
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Roosevelt credits that experience with transforming him from a frail, nearsighted youth into a rugged individual who years later would become the 26th president and a pioneering conservationist.
Adjective
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That if you were deemed, as an enslaved person, if you were deemed troublesome or in some way unwanted, you would literally be sold down the river from the more northern states to the deeper south where you would potentially be treated even worse.
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Offer Real Value, Not Leftovers Most product bundles fail not because the idea is bad but because the execution misses what consumers actually want.
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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