poorly

1 of 2

adverb

poor·​ly ˈpu̇r-lē 

ˈpȯr-

: in a poor condition or manner

especially : in an inferior or imperfect way : badly

sang poorly

poorly

2 of 2

adjective

: somewhat ill : indisposed

Synonyms

Adverb

• bad
• badly
• deficiently
• inadequately
• lousily
• unacceptably
• unsatisfactorily
• wretchedly

Adjective

• ailing
• bad
• down
• ill
• indisposed
• peaked
• peaky
• punk
• run-down
• sick
• sickened
• unhealthy
• unsound
• unwell

Examples of poorly in a Sentence

Adverb

he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests

Adjective

she stayed home because she was feeling poorly

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Things are going so poorly in L.A. County, according to Lt. Jay Moss of the Sheriff’s Department’s major narcotics unit, that after paying a few thousand dollars of taxes and fees, many unlicensed cannabis shops resume sales within hours. —Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2024

The Greens, who in 2019 won their largest share of seats in European parliamentary elections, are today polling poorly. —Somini Sengupta, New York Times, 6 June 2024

Adjective

Both the United States and the United Nations have stepped back from leadership roles, a reflection of how poorly interventions in Haiti have gone and also the wide range of issues in other parts of the world at the moment. —Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024

Story will be a free agent and at this stage why would an accomplished player stay with the poorly run Rockies? —BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing poorly

• poorly kept secret
• speak well/poorly for

Kids Definition

poorly

adjective

poor·​ly

ˈpu̇(ə)r-lē,

ˈpō(ə)r-

: somewhat ill