anemic

adjective

ane·​mic ə-ˈnē-mik 

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 

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

Yes, that sounds anemic compared with the hundreds-strong roster in previous Lego games. —Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026

In the nineteen-nineties and the two-thousands, NASA’s plans to return to the moon were cancelled owing to anemic budgets. —David W. Brown, New Yorker, 24 May 2026

One of the biggest culprits has been slowing job growth, which has become downright anemic in the past year or so. —Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Becerra has since won endorsements from influential labor groups and Latino state leaders, and his once anemic fundraising has swelled. —ABC News, 14 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

see anemia

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anemic

• ischaemic
• ischemic
• leukemic
• phonemic
• racemic
• uraemic
• uremic
• hyperemic
• hyperglycemic
• hypoglycemic