as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
her mother announced that she still looked peaky, and felt her forehead for a fever
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Recent Examples of peaky
The curveball in all this is Verstappen, whose Red Bull future has become a significant talking point once again amid the team’s difficulties with a peaky car that will surely test his championship defense.
—
Luke Smith, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
In reality, though, because the TCL’s tone mapping is not as effective as that of the Samsung TV, the TCL’s brightness can cause clipping and leave the image looking ‘peaky’ and unbalanced.
—John Archer, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Local surf guides will take wave riders to fun, peaky beach breaks or barreling reefs.
—Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
Photo : The Hover Bureau The one-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse has a living room clad in peaky cypress paneling.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025
Local surf guides will take wave riders to fun, peaky beach breaks or barreling reefs.
—Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
The powerband was peaky, with the turbos coming alive above 2500 rpm, accompanied by a distinct whistle.
—Brett Berk, Car and Driver, 4 Sep. 2023
The buzzy and peaky four-cylinder isn't a good match for the eight-speed automatic transmission, which is reluctant to downshift.
—Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 4 Aug. 2023
Moreover, although the power peaks are identical in both engines, the SE motor's much lower torque peak represents a considerable flattening of the rotary's traditionally peaky torque curve.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 1 Feb. 2023
Luke Smith, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
In reality, though, because the TCL’s tone mapping is not as effective as that of the Samsung TV, the TCL’s brightness can cause clipping and leave the image looking ‘peaky’ and unbalanced.
—John Archer, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Local surf guides will take wave riders to fun, peaky beach breaks or barreling reefs.
—Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
Photo : The Hover Bureau The one-bedroom, two-bath guesthouse has a living room clad in peaky cypress paneling.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2025
Local surf guides will take wave riders to fun, peaky beach breaks or barreling reefs.
—Noah Lederman, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024
The powerband was peaky, with the turbos coming alive above 2500 rpm, accompanied by a distinct whistle.
—Brett Berk, Car and Driver, 4 Sep. 2023
The buzzy and peaky four-cylinder isn't a good match for the eight-speed automatic transmission, which is reluctant to downshift.
—Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 4 Aug. 2023
Moreover, although the power peaks are identical in both engines, the SE motor's much lower torque peak represents a considerable flattening of the rotary's traditionally peaky torque curve.
—Csaba Csere, Car and Driver, 1 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peaky
Adjective
-
Not every mosquito carries West Nile virus, and not everyone who contracts the virus will get sick.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
28 July 2025
-
Cena took the opportunity to chug water to avoid getting sick.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Both the United States and the United Nations have stepped back from leadership roles, a reflection of how poorly interventions in Haiti have gone and also the wide range of issues in other parts of the world at the moment.—
Adam Taylor,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
Truth be told, neither outcome would have been a bad choice.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The tab can easily run into thousands of dollars A bad adapter might even expose vehicles and chargers — conceivably, even your home — to cybersecurity threats.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That same month, her mother became briefly yet seriously ill, and Alcott put down her manuscript to care for her.—
Sarah Blackwood,
New Yorker,
22 July 2025
-
When Jack became ill and close to death, Mary became very helpful to me.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
19 July 2025
Adjective
-
After a solid 2023 where former world champion Fernando Alonso captured multiple podium finishes, 2024 was a down year ,and 2025 has been ever worse, leaving Aston Martin ranked near the bottom of the Constructor’s Standings.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
31 July 2025
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Despite the down year, the Cowboys felt confident enough to make an investment in Ferguson.—
Justin Grasso,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Peaky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peaky. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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