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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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
-
Weary from their journey and trapped in desperate conditions, many children arrive with visible signs of malnutrition: hollow eyes, frail limbs and weakened bodies.—
Brice Kevin Da,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
There was a little bit of compassion and love, something human and frail in there.—
Francesca Gariano,
People.com,
17 June 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
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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
-
That’s the best way to describe how the Boys in Blue have acted as the city emblazoned on their hats and road jerseys battles Donald Trump’s toxic alphabet soup of federal agencies that have conducted immigration sweeps across Los Angeles over the past two weeks.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2025
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Fed with sugar and salt to create a specific pigment, these microbes act like miniature factories, brewing vibrant dyes that are transferred directly onto fabric using a fraction of the water and none of the toxic additives.—
Maeve Campbell,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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King Charles and Kate Middleton were both diagnosed with cancer, with the King reportedly still very sick.—
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz,
StyleCaster,
20 June 2025
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If Rob and Ryan are struck by lightning, get bored, fall out, get sick or lose a court case, will Wrexham look so transcendent?—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
22 June 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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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
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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
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 3 Jul. 2025.
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