as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests a poorly drawn figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
Champions League trophies are what coaches — including Ancelotti, whose hopes of a sixth are fading — desire and Emery scores poorly on that front.
—Justin Guthrie, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Adverb
To many outside his administration, his tariff strategy seemed zig-zag, chaotic and poorly planned.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2025
Champions League trophies are what coaches — including Ancelotti, whose hopes of a sixth are fading — desire and Emery scores poorly on that front.
—Justin Guthrie, New York Times, 9 Apr. 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
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poorly
Adverb
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Ben Simmons missed a hook in the paint badly and wasn’t used after the first quarter.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Nazar, 13, is on the long road to recovery with support from UNICEF and partners after being badly injured by an explosive remnant of war in eastern Ukraine.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Steward said his daughter, while surfing nearby, became sick with an infection from a type of bacteria called MRSA, which is resistant to many antibiotics.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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It seems squarely aimed at making kids sick by discouraging vaccination.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!—
Amber Smith,
Discover Magazine,
3 Apr. 2024
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That started off bad and got better.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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After a down season by his standards (career-low .788 OPS in 2024), Alonso’s entire game looks better in 2025.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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The Trojans are coming off a down year in the first season under head coach Eric Musselman.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This applies to beneficiaries who are not a spouse, minor child, disabled, chronically ill or certain trusts.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
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Rather, the animals were probably ill or injured when they were buried, or may have been otherwise unfit for military service.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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