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

Walker is the piece that could liven up a Chiefs offense that felt anemic at times in 2025, even before Mahomes got hurt. — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

The meme machine has produced images of Trump as Jesus, racist caricatures of the Obamas and crude attacks on protesters, stirring controversy without improving his already anemic approval ratings. — Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Instead, Onslaught is an anemic venture so desperate to be as cool as its sources of inspiration — the work of John Carpenter and Quentin Tarantino, the stylings of Lt. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Productivity levels can be as much as 25% above the national average, a healthy fillip to otherwise anemic economic growth figures. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 27 Aug. 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