sickly

adjective

ˈsi-klē How to pronounce sickly (audio)
Definition of sicklynext
1
as in frail
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body lungs scarred by years of exposure to the sickly air of the coal mines

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sickly First, the spots appear, then leaves yellow and fall off the plant, and your rose bush turns into a sickly collection of sticks with no flower buds in sight. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026 Work took place in the spring and early summer and the pool was refilled in June, but an algae bloom returned just days later, turning the pool a sickly green color. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 The sickly childhoods of children’s literature likely reflect a number of factors. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 11 May 2026 The 2019 post on the notorious image board’s /x/ forum included a disquieting photo of an empty hallway bathed in sickly light. — Miles Klee, Wired News, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
  1. frail
  2. poisonous
  3. fragile
  4. toxic
  5. sick
  6. unhealthful
  7. weak
  8. unhealthy
Adjective
  • The law had said medically frail people include those who have substance use disorders, disabilities or serious medical conditions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • Roosevelt credits that experience with transforming him from a frail, nearsighted youth into a rugged individual who years later would become the 26th president and a pioneering conservationist.
    — Joe Yogerst, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of frail
Adjective
  • All of this played out against an increasingly poisonous political environment.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
  • Sago palm, oleander, foxglove, azaleas and lily of the valley are all common and all poisonous.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of poisonous
Adjective
  • Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Low employee morale often grows from ongoing negative interactions and toxic workplace cultures.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of toxic
Adjective
  • If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.
    — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of sick
Adjective
  • From downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley, tens of thousands were enveloped in unhealthful levels of smoke, even as some local officials told residents that the air posed no danger.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of unhealthful
Adjective
  • Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
    — Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Pasta salad and potato salad both consist of carbohydrates tossed with dressing and vegetables that can fit into a balanced eating plan without triggering unhealthy blood sugar spikes.
    — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 July 2026
  • People at risk include individuals with heart disease, asthma, older adults, children and pregnant women, although higher air quality index values can also indicate unhealthy levels of pollution for everyone, even those outside the at-risk groups.
    — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of unhealthy

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sickly
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Cite this Entry

“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sickly for Spanish Speakers

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