Synonyms of poorly

poorly 1 of 2

adverb

ˈpu̇r-lē 

as in badly

in an unsatisfactory way

he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests

a poorly drawn figure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• badly
• bad
• horribly
• inadequately
• unsatisfactorily
• incorrectly
• terribly
• deficiently
• wretchedly
• unacceptably
• lousily
• awfully
• dreadfully
• abysmally
• atrociously
• disastrously
• horrendously
• deplorably
• horrifically
• inappropriately
• damnably
• grossly
• intolerably
• unbearably
• unsuitably
• miserably
• shoddily
• indecently
• vulgarly
• execrably
• egregiously
• insufficiently
• rottenly
• abominably
• shabbily
• flagrantly
• detestably
• vilely
• reprehensibly
• unspeakably
• naughtily
• meagerly
• scantily
• odiously
• inferiorly
• sparely
• skimpily
• sleazily
• trashily
• meanly
• stingily
• scantly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• well
• adequately
• fine
• satisfactorily
• nicely
• good
• acceptably
• correctly
• appropriately
• all right
• tolerably
• decently
• so-so
• rightly
• suitably
• OK
• fittingly
• passably
• precisely
• seemly
• faithfully
• ideally
• respectably
• exactly
• palatably
• felicitously
• decorously
• congruously
• meetly
• satisfyingly
• gratifyingly

poorly

2 of 2

adjective

as in sick

temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body

she stayed home because she was feeling poorly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sick
• bad
• down
• ill
• unwell
• weak
• shaky
• unhealthy
• out of sorts
• unsound
• ailing
• under the weather
• dizzy
• indisposed
• peaky
• peaked
• sickened
• troubled
• punk
• fragile
• run-down
• weakly
• lousy
• symptomatic
• disabled
• cruddy
• feeble
• sickish
• disordered
• diseased
• nauseous
• seedy
• queasy
• squeamish
• frail
• sickly
• seasick
• afflicted
• woozy
• invalid
• decrepit
• nauseated
• debilitated
• achy
• feverish
• infirm
• incapacitated
• qualmish
• airsick
• carsick
• hypochondriacal
• hypochondriac
• light-headed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• well
• whole
• healthy
• sound
• wholesome
• healthful
• better
• conditioned
• hale
• fit
• cured
• able-bodied
• improved
• recovering
• strong
• tough
• robust
• hardy
• well-conditioned
• mending
• rugged
• hearty
• lusty
• stalwart
• thriving
• bouncing
• flourishing
• rehabilitated
• flush
• blooming
• chipper
• convalescing
• recuperating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of poorly

Adverb

Taking down your license plate, if that’s what the clerk did, reflects poorly on them. — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 21 July 2026

The decision to trade away a pick in that draft could age poorly. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 21 July 2026

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