anemic

Or a·nae·mic

[uh-nee-mik]

adjective

1. Pathology.,  affected with anemia; having a deficiency of the hemoglobin, often accompanied by a reduced number of red blood cells.

2. lacking power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness; listless; weak.

   an anemic effort;

   anemic tones.

anemic

/ əˈniːmɪk /

adjective

1. the usual US spelling of anaemic

Other Word Forms

• anemically adverb
• nonanemic adjective
• pseudoanemic adjective
• unanemic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anemic¹

First recorded in 1830–40; anem(ia) + -ic

Example Sentences

For all the endless chatter about false allegations in the past few years, the reality of such incidents has been anemic to non-existent.

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In animal studies, this innovative formula successfully restored healthy blood iron levels in anemic mice while preventing inflammation and keeping the gut microbiome balanced.

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But don’t expect a newly elected legislature to solve France’s deeper crises, which trace to a budget bloated with unsustainable spending that sucks life out of an anemic economy.

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So far, fundraising has been mostly anemic, at least according to the county’s most recent comprehensive campaign finance data available for the sheriff’s race, which covers only Jan. 1 through June 30.

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Malnourished and anemic, and without direct access to a health clinic, he succumbs to a treatable illness.

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Related Words

• feeble 
• frail 
• sickly