ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ailing

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈeɪɫɪŋ// UK //ˈeɪlɪŋ// ail·ing

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.


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seen as a final attempt to rescue the ailing car manufacturer from total bankruptcy after years of falling sales and outdated designs.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; often appears in political or financial journalism.

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