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Showing results for ailing. Search instead for vailing.
Synonyms

ailing

American  
[ey-ling] / ˈeɪ lɪŋ /

adjective

  1. sickly; unwell.

  2. unsound or troubled.

    a financially ailing corporation.
ailing British  
/ ˈeɪlɪŋ /

adjective

  1. unwell or unsuccessful

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ailing

First recorded in 1590–1600; ail + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The German government and the country's chemical industry on Thursday presented a sweeping plan to help the ailing sector as it faces new headwinds from the Middle East war energy shock.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Pezeshkian turned to Araghchi to help deliver his promise of sanctions relief for the ailing economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The Scottish government later nationalised the ailing Ferguson's shipyard in Port Glasgow where Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa were being built.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

He defeated ailing eighth-ranked American Ben Shelton in the third round on Sunday to improve his record against top-10 players to 6-5 — an impressive stat for someone so green.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

Seems I’m ailing all the time and caint shake it.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.