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
Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Maybe the client had to leave their job to take care of an ailing family member.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The latter's been sent from Baltimore, where his ailing father resides, to live with Joanne and his stepdad, Gary (Paul Adelstein), also a therapist.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Adjective
Born in Mountain Home, Hartz returned to Idaho in retirement to help her ailing mother.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
Maybe the client had to leave their job to take care of an ailing family member.
—Dallas Morning News, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Shortly after dropping his ailing bid for reelection, Adams embarked on a four-day trip to Albania, meeting with the country's Prime Minister Edi Rama and members of his Cabinet, along with local business leaders.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
The latter's been sent from Baltimore, where his ailing father resides, to live with Joanne and his stepdad, Gary (Paul Adelstein), also a therapist.
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ailing
Adjective
-
These conditions have fueled widespread reports of labor exploitation, environmental damage and violent disputes over territory, while mercury contamination from gold extraction has posed serious risks to indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Installations create striking contrasts between fragile glass and living plants, a hallmark of Chihuly’s large-scale outdoor works.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to get sick from these germs.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The researchers also hope to test the protocol earlier in pregnancy, before a pregnant person gets seriously sick.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Yusei Kikuchi said throwing fastballs was bothering him again, so the Los Angeles Angels pitcher left Wednesday's 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox after two innings with left shoulder tightness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Please order Keegan to make a pre-bathroom coffee for both of us for one week and then stop bothering me about it.—
John Hodgman,
New York Times,
24 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
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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
-
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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Equally concerning is that requiring twice as many workers per case without a plan to recruit or retain them risks widespread gaps in care.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It’s based on the dramatic and emotionally wrenching personal life of Southern Gothic author Carson McCullers, a physically frail but powerful novelist, adept at portraying the loneliness and isolation of misfits and outcasts.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Bucks County, Pennsylvania, grandmother, then 76, looked frail but resolute.—
Craig R. McCoy,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Its 28-game start matches the expansion 1962 Mets — who lost 120 games — along with 1964 and 1983 for the second-worst in team history behind an 8-20 opening in 1981.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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Ossai isn’t a bad pass rusher either, getting five sacks in each of the last two seasons, a total that somehow would’ve ranked second on the Jets last season.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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