ailing

1 of 2

adjective

ail·​ing ˈā-liŋ How to pronounce ailing (audio)
Synonyms of ailingnext
: having or suffering from an illness or injury
providing care for his ailing mother
trying to rest her ailing knee/back
a person in ailing health
—often used figuratively
an ailing company
an ailing economy

ailing

2 of 2

present participle of ail entry 1

Synonyms of ailing

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Adjective

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Examples of ailing in a Sentence

Adjective when his ailing wife had to go to a nursing home, he visited her every day he was ailing from some sort of infection in his eye that made it look all red and puffy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Costello told The News there weren’t many people looking out for the ailing former mayor. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 It should be duly noted, Bailey Johnson would be a worthy option to join whichever lady decides on the supporting campaign and as the ailing father, Paul Jesson is also incredibly rich and dynamic and would be worthy of consideration. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 Overture 41, by Annick Menardo at 41 percent and aged the same, returns to Overture Woman, the 2020 Harrods exclusive about an understudy pushed onstage in place of an ailing diva. — Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 The Giants also provided updates on a pair of ailing position players. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ailing

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of ail entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ailing was in 1598

Rhymes for ailing

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Browse Nearby Words

Ailey
ailing
aillt
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Cite this Entry

“Ailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ailing. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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