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
Nevada County sheriff’s officials arrested a Grass Valley man on suspicion of animal cruelty after authorities rescued more than 200 animals from a property where some animals were found dead, sickly or emaciated.
—
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Dec. 2025
The sergeant also reported seeing animals that looked sickly and emaciated, the sheriff's office says.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
For way too long, the Fabs story had been framed with a sickly sense of nostalgia — a fairy tale from the good old days.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The shy, sickly seamstress Mimi becomes the HIV-positive junkie Mimi who dances at a strip club to support her drug habit.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 Dec. 2025
The sergeant also reported seeing animals that looked sickly and emaciated, the sheriff's office says.
—Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
For way too long, the Fabs story had been framed with a sickly sense of nostalgia — a fairy tale from the good old days.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
The shy, sickly seamstress Mimi becomes the HIV-positive junkie Mimi who dances at a strip club to support her drug habit.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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With elderly patients, particularly those who are cognitively impaired and frail, that can be challenging.—
Neil Gaffin,
STAT,
29 Dec. 2025
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However, the bacteria can cause serious, potentially fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Anyone who may have eaten a poisonous mushroom is urged to seek medical help immediately.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Traces of plant toxins The chemical residues of this poisonous plant were found on 60,000-year-old quartz arrowheads.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The synthetic insulation can be beaten up more than fragile down, and the 15-denier fabric is water-resistant and durable for extended wear.—
Maggie Slepian,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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The latter provides the opportunity for a harrowing sequence in which the family is forced to cross a giant ravine on a treacherously fragile rope ladder.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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They’re combined with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic down alternative filling, creating a plush and luxurious sleeping experience that’s designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers.—
Megan Schaltegger,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Many hominids went extinct during this period, and being able to consume alcohol without adverse and/or toxic effects would have conferred a survival advantage.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This leaves a sicker risk pool behind and drives premiums even higher for those who remain.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
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Humans who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with HPAI are the most at risk of becoming infected.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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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Health professionals encourage people to use lean cuts of meat because most of the fat in animal products is unhealthful saturated fat, which can raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.—
Bethany Thayer,
Detroit Free Press,
22 June 2024
Adjective
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Its formula of ceramides, astaxanthin, and arginine strengthen, provide elasticity, and heal weak or broken hair.—
Olivia Dubyak,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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These winds could occasionally trigger minor (G1-level) geomagnetic storm activity, though displays are expected to be weaker and more sporadic than those seen over the weekend.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Julie Clark, a community education specialist for UCANR, recalled getting a call from a local forester who spotted an unhealthy-looking coast live oak while driving in Simi Hills’ Box Canyon.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Across studies, these health markers returned to unhealthy baseline levels an average of a year and a half after treatment ended.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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