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
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
The schedule has been poorly constructed — especially early in the season, which features too many gaps that prevent momentum from building — and drivers are largely unrecognizable outside of the motorsports bubble.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 31 July 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
His loss is a concern because the Dolphins’ backup tackles have performed poorly during training camp.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
The schedule has been poorly constructed — especially early in the season, which features too many gaps that prevent momentum from building — and drivers are largely unrecognizable outside of the motorsports bubble.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 31 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
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poorly
Adverb
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After making his first kick from 30 yards, Moody missed the 53-yarder badly to the left.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
16 Aug. 2025
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Levante’s players, coach and staff played a big role in providing crucial supplies and support when the team’s home city of Valencia was badly flooded last October.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Prater has a sick fascination with serial killers, collecting their trophies and even inviting the most notorious of them to gatherings at his mansion.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Today’s daily brief features the Texas governor ordering the arrest and expulsion of fleeing lawmakers, a video on the NYT weaponizing a sick toddler amid the starvation crisis in Gaza, and Israel is considering a plan to expand the war in Gaza.—
Armstrong Williams,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Aug. 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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The Panthers had Graham Gano, one the mightiest kickers in the league but who was recovering from an injury and trying to recoup from a statistical down year.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Aug. 2025
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Read more: Bears, Vikings Linked as Possible Trade Partners in Suggested QB Trade Last season with the Dolphins, Hill had a down year.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Jackson’s main Miami campus also houses the largest Level 4 NICU in Miami-Dade, which provides the highest level of care for premature and critically ill newborns.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
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About 1 in 5 people with this infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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