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
No matter how much you are tempted, sickly plants should be kept out of the greenhouse.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
But does that mean that vegans are going against human’s evolutionary history and are bound to be weak, sickly, and even stupid?
—Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The collection of slab-like columns by Derek McLane, lit in sickly, sullen colors by Natasha Katz, could be anywhere.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The color-grading choice was particularly popular in movies at the turn of the millennium, a sickly tint that conveyed metropolitan gothic sensibilities and disaffection while amping up the physical sallowness of already-pallid leads.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
But does that mean that vegans are going against human’s evolutionary history and are bound to be weak, sickly, and even stupid?
—Marianne Krasny, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
The collection of slab-like columns by Derek McLane, lit in sickly, sullen colors by Natasha Katz, could be anywhere.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The color-grading choice was particularly popular in movies at the turn of the millennium, a sickly tint that conveyed metropolitan gothic sensibilities and disaffection while amping up the physical sallowness of already-pallid leads.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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First, most previous studies looked at the general older population, including healthy or mildly ill people, whereas this study focused on frail, vulnerable individuals receiving home care who might be more functionally limited but also better connected to formal care systems.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 June 2025
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Considering Dolton’s frail financial condition, House was asked by a reporter if delving into the real estate is a wise move.—
Mike Nolan,
Chicago Tribune,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Also, maybe, Regan, the king’s poisonous middle daughter.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
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In addition to cyanide in her water, poisonous powder was also put in her air vents, prosecutors said.—
Kate Linderman,
Kansas City Star,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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However, removing them can undermine employee engagement, especially in hybrid or rapidly changing environments with fragile personal connections.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
As the conflict between Israel and Iran rests on a fragile ceasefire, Rajebi and other Iranian Americans told USA TODAY about dismay at American involvement and fear for loved ones still in Iran, saying a resurgence in violence could ripple around the world.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Setting the right tone and removing toxic employees becomes mission-critical to managing human employees in an age of AI.—
Jennifer C. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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The full moon in Libra on the 12th illuminates your relationships, highlighting where you may be stuck in codependent or toxic dynamics.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
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Alaska, Michigan, and Maine are among the latest states with paid sick or family leave laws on the books.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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The change comes amid concerns about fireworks causing unhealthful air.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
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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
Adjective
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And while the unemployment rate remains low, hiring has been weak, leaving those without jobs struggling to find new work.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 June 2025
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Total textile and apparel exports declined from $44.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $35.8 billion in fiscal year 2024 (ending March 31), due to weak global demand and elevated production costs.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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After more than a decade as a reviewer, Jason Bennett has an unhealthy love for rogue-lite survival games and terrible puns.—
Jason Bennett,
Arkansas Online,
29 June 2025
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That means overcoming interpersonal tensions, freezing conditions, dwindling rations, and unhealthy CO2 levels, among other challenges, as well as taking on a pulse-pounding manual course correction with no navigational computer.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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