Word
ailing
Phoneticsail·ing
US/ˈeɪɫɪŋ/
UK/ˈeɪlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. experiencing poor health or having serious problems. You can use it to describe a sick person or a business that is failing.
adj. experiencing poor health or persistent illness; experiencing significant financial or operational difficulties. Often used to describe institutions, economies, or physical bodies in a state of decline.
Examples
“The government is trying to help the ailing economy.”
“He spent the summer at home caring for his ailing grandmother.”
“The merger was seen as a final attempt to rescue the ailing car manufacturer from total bankruptcy after years of falling sales and outdated designs.”
Examples
simple
“The government is trying to help the ailing economy.”
contextual
“He spent the summer at home caring for his ailing grandmother.”
complex
“The merger was seen as a final attempt to rescue the ailing car manufacturer from total bankruptcy after years of falling sales and outdated designs.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun; often appears in political or financial journalism.
Real-World Examples
“But Paz has struggled to address Bolivia’s ailing economy while balancing domestic needs.” “Having closed her boardinghouse in 1820, Randolph was retired and caring for her ailing son when she decided to collect and publish her expertise for a new generation of homemakers.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/ailing