1
as in frail
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health
a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sickly
The 89-minute running time doesn’t allow much exposition, and in fact the opening sequence shows a veterinarian coming to treat a sickly Ben before having his face viciously torn off.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
This usually occurs when a dead limb or a sickly tree falls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Good Karma chose to take a chance on sickly Feather and started treatment.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The newborn was coughing so badly, her skin turned a sickly gray-blue color.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
This usually occurs when a dead limb or a sickly tree falls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Good Karma chose to take a chance on sickly Feather and started treatment.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The newborn was coughing so badly, her skin turned a sickly gray-blue color.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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For all its public association with queerness, ballet remains largely committed to a frail, wispy femininity and a princely but muscular and explosive masculinity—with the stringent, often punishing body-shape standards to match.—
Chloe Angyal,
Time,
9 Mar. 2026
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Over time in 2025, Chandler and Webster said Acacio had started to appear frail and thin.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And in Season 11, before the game even started, castaways hiked 11 miles through the Guatemalan jungle—a 24-hour trek in 100-degree heat that resulted in one collapse, one biceps tear, one vomiting spell, and one puncture wound from a poisonous tree barb.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
24 Feb. 2026
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This was always a question of what happens to this friend group when there’s a poisonous dynamic at the center?—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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By capturing organisms in extraordinary detail, resources like Antscan create a permanent, high-resolution record of life’s architecture—an anatomical time capsule that can be queried and revisited long after fragile specimens degrade or wild populations vanish.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Mar. 2026
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Be careful though, as lampshades are fragile and can even become brittle.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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From invasive species to blooms with toxic compounds, these are the six perennial flowers our gardening experts warn against.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
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There’s good that can come from that — the engagement, the creativity — but some bad too, like when things get toxic.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Threats to the environment and wildlife are still ever-present — a new highly pathogenic avian influenza has just hit the state, McGuire said, making birds and now elephant seals in Northern California sick.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2026
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The change comes amid concerns about fireworks causing unhealthful air.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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But relying on the military to supplant the role traditionally performed by civilian law enforcement entails risks in a region where military institutions and oversight are weaker, armed forces have a legacy of human rights abuses and corruption is a perennial challenge.—
JOSHUA GOODMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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January’s stronger-than-expected total was likely buoyed by some one-time factors (notably, weaker holiday hiring that meant fewer post-holiday layoffs, and unseasonably warm weather in the early part of the month that boosted industries like construction).—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Advertisement During a 2023 parole hearing, Rachel reflected on the events leading up to the murder, describing her relationship with Shelia Eddy as intense and unhealthy.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
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This is due to the amount of smoke from the fire, causing the air quality to become unhealthy, especially for those with respiratory conditions.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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