1
as in frail
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health
a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
lungs scarred by years of exposure to the sickly air of the coal mines
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sickly
What danced across your palate in the first mouthful becomes a sickly chore by the end of the meal.
—
Michael Irving, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In George Stevens’ 1956 epic Giant, Del Rey played the sickly Mrs. Obregon, who is cared for along with her baby by Taylor’s Leslie Benedict as an impatient Jett Rink (Dean) tries to rush her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
Scenes centered on corporate stooges or government administrators are cast in bland browns and sickly yellows, while moments based in nature or the afterlife are bursting with bright blues, pinks, and greens.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Michael Irving, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In George Stevens’ 1956 epic Giant, Del Rey played the sickly Mrs. Obregon, who is cared for along with her baby by Taylor’s Leslie Benedict as an impatient Jett Rink (Dean) tries to rush her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
Scenes centered on corporate stooges or government administrators are cast in bland browns and sickly yellows, while moments based in nature or the afterlife are bursting with bright blues, pinks, and greens.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
-
Our frail nature, damaged by our propensity to mess things up, stands in need of grace and salvation.—
Anna Rowlands,
Time,
12 May 2025
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Nearly 40% of white and more than half of Black family caregivers report spending more than 40 hours a week aiding a frail relative.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nitrogen oxides are poisonous gases that help form lung-damaging soot particles, which can travel hundreds of miles.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
-
After the poisonous snowfall begins, Salvo sets out to rescue his daughter, Clara, who was on a boat at the beginning of the attack.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
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Fiber optic cable, in my opinion, is more fragile than traditional solid-copper coaxial cable.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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According to the European Parliament, the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water contamination, largely due to toxic dyes and runoff from textile production.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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Environmental dangers are also prevalent, with certain chambers booby trapped to fill with toxic gas and acidic natural hazards waiting to chip away at precious health.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Without the vaccine, these 22 million Americans could get sick, hospitalized and even die.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
-
William would put him in his place… but King Charles is weak, sick and detests confrontation, so Prince Andrew runs over him.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
The unhealthful effects of autocracy remain robust even when accounting for economic differences and when excluding Venezuela and its collapsing health-care system.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
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However, communities in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains were still experiencing unhealthful air quality, according to the air district.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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Don’t resist it — this is about breaking free from unhealthy patterns and establishing something productive and sustainable.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
12 May 2025
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When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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