SICKLY Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

sickly

adjective

ˈsi-klē

Definition of sickly

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sickly If your once-vigorous plant is starting to look sickly, spider mites may be the culprits. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 May 2026 The sickly childhoods of children’s literature likely reflect a number of factors. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 11 May 2026 Soon Collie is ensnared in a plot to kidnap a sickly rich boy that immediately goes off the rails. — Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026 The Republic turns a sickly pale. — Big Think, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sickly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly

Adjective

Biden's halting gait, frail appearance and frequent verbal stumbles eventually doomed his 2024 reelection campaign.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Biden’s halting gait, frail appearance and frequent verbal stumbles eventually doomed his 2024 reelection campaign.

— Jill Colvin, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Definition of frail

Adjective

Wildfire smoke contains noxious or poisonous gases and particulate matter, tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, affecting people with respiratory problems, says the Environmental Protection Agency.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 16 July 2026
How plants poisonous to dogs cause harm Not all toxic plants affect dogs the same way, but many share similar chemicals that attack the digestive system.

— Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

Definition of poisonous

Adjective

Meanwhile Karl Lagerfeld designed exquisite Weimar Kabaret-ish costumes (these ultimately proved too fragile to attach Madonna's monitoring system to.

— Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Gas prices ease as economic anxiety lingers Gas prices have dropped sharply in the weeks since the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, surprising analysts who had warned drivers could be in for a summer of soaring fuel costs.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026

Definition of fragile

Adjective

In addition to administering the toxic combination of medications, Hemphill failed to recognize and treat signs of respiratory distress, and administered the incorrect reversal medication for the kind of drug the girl had been given, Spragins wrote.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
How many malodorously toxic episodes does that make toward the seven plagues in the Old Testament?

— Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of toxic

Adjective

If a sick animal did end up at a slaughterhouse, the US Department of Agriculture’s thorough meat inspection system would very likely spot it, separate it from others and deem it US Suspect.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
But when McGinley was a teen-ager, Michael became sick with AIDS and moved home to New Jersey.

— Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

Definition of sick

Adjective

From downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley, tens of thousands were enveloped in unhealthful levels of smoke, even as some local officials told residents that the air posed no danger.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026

Definition of unhealthful

Adjective

But despite growing international demand for Chinese goods, domestic consumption remains a critical weak spot in the nation’s economic development.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
The stock plunged 25% for its worst day on record after issuing weak preliminary results for the second quarter.

— Alex Harring, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

But being a teenager can be isolating, confusing, and an emotional rollercoaster—and what can start as an attempt to find friends can quickly spiral into an unhealthy obsession.

— Sherri Gordon, Parents, 10 July 2026
In an unhealthy one, the CEO speaks first, and the rest calibrate around the CEO's tone.

— Janet M Harvey, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of unhealthy

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sickliness

sickly

sickness

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“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sickly

adjective

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