anemic

adjective

ane·​mic ə-ˈnē-mik How to pronounce anemic (audio)
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 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.
The below-average rushing attack is probably Philadelphia’s biggest problem, but the anemic passing game isn’t far behind. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 9 Oct. 2025 What a dull, anemic performance. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025 After an extended run of mediocre at best — and at worst, totally anemic — releases, 2024’s Call of Duty felt like a breath of fresh air, if only by default. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025 To be sure, while Carlyle’s data showed anemic payroll gains, other economic indicators painted a brighter picture. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anemic. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

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