as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests a poorly drawn figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
she stayed home because she was feeling poorly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poorly
Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Johnson, who received 24 defensive snaps against the Patriots, performed poorly as a run defender and pass rusher.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Adverb
Arizona didn't do as poorly in some specific categories, including the number of adults with mental illness, but access to care and the high prevalence of youth mental illness brought the state's overall rank down to the bottom.
—Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Johnson, who received 24 defensive snaps against the Patriots, performed poorly as a run defender and pass rusher.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poorly
Adverb
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A lot of investors worry that the growth in tech stocks fueled by spending on AI will end badly, according to Macquarie’s Thierry Wizman.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Three of the four playoff semifinalists — Texas, Penn State and Notre Dame — have already lost two games and badly underperformed high expectations.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But as that incident demonstrated, even a small number of controllers calling in sick can have a big impact.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
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Austin Hedges gets sick to his stomach before postseason games.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!—
Amber Smith,
Discover Magazine,
3 Apr. 2024
-
That started off bad and got better.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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Becky Cameron 7-Piece Bedding Bundle This bedding bundle is great for people with allergies, thanks to its down-alternative fill that provides warmth without irritation.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
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The Red Sox have the benefit of playing in a down era of American League talent where the path to the World Series seemed wide open for the third consecutive year.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Noel Acciari, who has been horribly banged up in recent years, made his preseason debut in this one.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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With a parachute billowing behind him, Miura makes a couple of pizza turns on the sheer and horribly icy Lhotse Face before catching an edge and then tumbling several thousand feet to the bank of a crevasse.—
Outside,
Outside,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Passengers who’d fallen ill on the Serenade of the Seas were isolated, disembarking separately upon arrival.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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Since some people recover from listeriosis without medical attention and never get tested, the CDC estimates that the actual number of people ill is probably substantially higher than reported, and that the outbreak may not be restricted to the states shown below.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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