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
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Vested with the responsibility of finding havens for some of the county’s most fragile, lonely people, often without relatives or those able to care for them, Hernandez has been accused of treating them like commodities.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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The joint move from Kennedy and Zeldin comes as activists from Kennedy’s MAHA movement have forged fragile political ties with the EPA but expressed frustration with lack of action on their priorities, including pesticide regulation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That leaves a sicker, older, more expensive pool of enrollees, which pushes up premiums for everyone.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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As a result, many began calling in sick or quitting entirely.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Why are two players whose college careers, at the moment, are over bothering to put their names out there for other programs to see?—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the day, jot down any worries that are bothering you, particularly the ones that keep popping up.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
27 Mar. 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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Early hurricane season forecast sees 'very concerning trend' A typical year averages about 14 tropical storms, seven of which spin into hurricanes, based on weather records that date from 1991 to 2020.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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San Diego economist Ray Major downplays the impacts of declining immigration, pointing out that the far more concerning issue is the continuing exodus of residents, who far outnumber those who are moving here.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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For all its public association with queerness, ballet remains largely committed to a frail, wispy femininity and a princely but muscular and explosive masculinity—with the stringent, often punishing body-shape standards to match.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Bernadine appeared to be useless—or, worse, a potential double agent.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This is very bad for our health.—
Peter D'Oench,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ailing. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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