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
What danced across your palate in the first mouthful becomes a sickly chore by the end of the meal.
—
Michael Irving, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Michael Irving, New Atlas, 3 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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Our frail nature, damaged by our propensity to mess things up, stands in need of grace and salvation.—
Anna Rowlands,
Time,
12 May 2025
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Remembering Pope Francis, a leader known for change Pope Francis' death comes just one day after the frail but determined pontiff greeted thousands after Easter Mass in his open-air popemobile.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Nitrogen oxides are poisonous gases that help form lung-damaging soot particles, which can travel hundreds of miles.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2025
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After the poisonous snowfall begins, Salvo sets out to rescue his daughter, Clara, who was on a boat at the beginning of the attack.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Fiber optic cable, in my opinion, is more fragile than traditional solid-copper coaxial cable.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
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Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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From start to finish, Magic Mike XXL is an absolute joy—a film that boldly rejects toxic masculinity, that isn’t driven by rivalries or alpha dynamics or cynicism, that features men who build each other up, who cry together, who admit fears, who help each other accomplish their goals.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2025
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For more than 100 years, trash, toxic materials, and sewage from failing treatment plants on both sides of the border have fouled the river.—
Joe Mathews,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Parents might use those days to stay home with a sick child, while others might use a non-work day to help a family member in need or take a pet to the vet.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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This is a vital step not just for those currently facing a terminal diagnosis, but for the many Californians who aren’t sick now but may be someday.—
Christie Golemb,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 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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The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
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Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The most common type is primary hypertension, which has no identifiable cause but can stem from a variety of factors like unhealthy lifestyle habits (e.g., physical inactivity or a high-salt diet), genetics, and aging.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2025
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Don’t resist it — this is about breaking free from unhealthy patterns and establishing something productive and sustainable.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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