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Definition of ailing

ailing

/ˈeɪ.lɪŋ/
ail · ing
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ailing Lexical Profile

ailing Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

In poor health; suffering from an illness or chronic physical weakness.

Example

"She took a leave of absence from her job to care for her ailing grandmother."

2

Experiencing severe financial, operational, or structural difficulties; declining in effectiveness or vitality.

Example

"The government introduced a new stimulus package to support the country's ailing manufacturing sector."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for ailing

• Nearby Words

aidman
aikido
ail
ailing
ailment
aim
aimer

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed as the present participle of the verb 'ail', from Old English 'eglan' meaning 'to trouble, plague, or afflict'. It shares a Proto-Germanic root with Gothic 'agls' (shameful, disgraceful) and Old English 'egle' (troublesome, hateful).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ailing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ailing
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