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
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The sense among Republicans on the Hill was that the hearing went about as poorly as possible.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 4 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
Perimenopause, which can trigger depression and anxiety, remains so poorly understood that many women don't even realize their symptoms are connected to hormonal changes.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Advertisement The sense among Republicans on the Hill was that the hearing went about as poorly as possible.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 4 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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The proposal to cut two public holidays in France also went down badly.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
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While cruise line operators are enjoying a surge in popularity after the pandemic badly battered the industry—and Carnival itself reported an all-time high of $25 billion in annual revenue in 2024—investments in AI and other technologies could make travel by ship even more desirable.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some doctors might not even immediately recognize symptoms in a sick patient because vaccines have made many contagious diseases rare in this country, said Marty, the FIU expert.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
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However, some can, and those with risk factors can certainly become very sick.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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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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Springer transformed from payroll anchor to potential down-ballot MVP candidate.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Season 4 ended on a bit of a down note, with a major character death, and lots of family trouble for River Cartwright to navigate.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Sometimes prosthetics are required, or fake teeth, or horribly unflattering wigs.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
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Timing that shortest of all short windows between when an avocado is hard as rock and horribly black and squishy has become one of the millennium’s many small trials in life (for avocado fans at least).—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Osbourne died two weeks after his final performance with Black Sabbath from a heart attack following years of ill health, including Parkinson's disease.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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The ceremony honors the courage of seriously ill children and their families, and Harry will once again deliver a speech and present the award for Most Inspirational Child (aged 4–6).—
Erin Hill,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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