anemic

adjective

ane·​mic ə-ˈnē-mik How to pronounce anemic (audio)
Synonyms of anemicnext
1
: relating to or affected with anemia
The blood test indicated that he was slightly anemic.
2
a
: lacking force, vitality, or spirit
an anemic rendition of the song
anemic efforts at enforcement
b
: lacking interest or savor (see savor entry 1 sense 3) : insipid
anemic wines
c
: lacking in substance or quantity
anemic returns on an investment
anemic attendance
anemically
ə-ˈnē-mi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce anemic (audio)
adverb

Examples of anemic in a Sentence

The doctor told me I was slightly anemic. The band played an anemic rendition of a classic love song. Investors are worried about the stock's anemic performance. Officials worried about anemic attendance at the shows. Sales rose an anemic 0.5 percent last quarter.
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.
Overall, the report shows hiring has picked up steam this spring after anemic job growth last year. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 5 June 2026 Yes, that sounds anemic compared with the hundreds-strong roster in previous Lego games. — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026 By comparison, the current growth looks anemic. — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026 The Giants’ lineup has finally started to mash following an anemic start to the season, but the pitching staff has been among the worst in the majors. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for anemic

Word History

Etymology

see anemia

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anemic was in 1826

Rhymes for anemic

See All Rhymes for anemic

Browse Nearby Words

anemia
anemic
anemobiagraph
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anemic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anemic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for anemic

Nglish: Translation of anemic for Spanish Speakers

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