1
as in frail
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health
a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
lungs scarred by years of exposure to the sickly air of the coal mines
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sickly
The sight of the Kelly-green jerseys, against the sickly inchworm green of Veterans Stadium’s diabolical artificial turf, got its talons in me.
—
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In George Stevens’ 1956 epic Giant, Del Rey played the sickly Mrs. Obregon, who is cared for along with her baby by Taylor’s Leslie Benedict as an impatient Jett Rink (Dean) tries to rush her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
Scenes centered on corporate stooges or government administrators are cast in bland browns and sickly yellows, while moments based in nature or the afterlife are bursting with bright blues, pinks, and greens.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
The water was a blur of teal fringed with rusty shadows, darkening, about twenty feet below, to a sickly emerald.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In George Stevens’ 1956 epic Giant, Del Rey played the sickly Mrs. Obregon, who is cared for along with her baby by Taylor’s Leslie Benedict as an impatient Jett Rink (Dean) tries to rush her.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2025
Scenes centered on corporate stooges or government administrators are cast in bland browns and sickly yellows, while moments based in nature or the afterlife are bursting with bright blues, pinks, and greens.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
The water was a blur of teal fringed with rusty shadows, darkening, about twenty feet below, to a sickly emerald.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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With this, Trump is offering Putin a frail fig leaf of respectability.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2025
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The frail Francis had celebrated Easter with public words to his faithful flock and a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But Palpatine's genius is less about those poisonous whispers than his plot to isolate Anakin from his friends.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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The Big Bay Boom fireworks create a toxic fog of fine particles, poisonous aerosols and heavy metals that harm air, water and soil — posing serious risks to birds, wildlife, pets and people.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In public comments to the federal agency, city leaders stressed how the Big Easy's already fragile, aging drinking water infrastructure would have trouble withstanding the impacts if the 2024 sill were to breach.—
Kati Weis,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Automation reduces labor dependency, stabilizes production costs, and ends our reliance on fragile, offshore supply chains.—
Cam Myers,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to the European Parliament, the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global industrial water contamination, largely due to toxic dyes and runoff from textile production.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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Heavy trucks still clog roads, and residents worry about toxic dust and soil, and about hazardous waste being dumped into local landfills.—
Francine Kiefer,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Without the vaccine, these 22 million Americans could get sick, hospitalized and even die.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
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William would put him in his place… but King Charles is weak, sick and detests confrontation, so Prince Andrew runs over him.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The unhealthful effects of autocracy remain robust even when accounting for economic differences and when excluding Venezuela and its collapsing health-care system.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
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However, communities in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains were still experiencing unhealthful air quality, according to the air district.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Weak Treasury Demand Moved Rates More recently, in the wake of the administration’s chaotic trade policy rollout, Treasury security auctions did not go as expected, with weak demand pushing rates up higher than everyone expected.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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That’s why he’s been able to generate so much weak contact over the years.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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April 2025 The Devil: April calls you to confront any attachments or patterns that may be holding you back, Scorpio, as The Devil urges you to break free from unhealthy cycles.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
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In addition to direct health issues, MASH is linked to metabolic syndrome -- a group of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess belly fat and unhealthy cholesterol levels.—
Allen Chang,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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