anemic

American  

[uh-nee-mik] / əˈni mɪk /

Or anaemic

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 British  

/ əˈniːmɪk /

adjective

1. the usual US spelling of anaemic

---

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of anemic

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

Example Sentences

Fundraising for U.S. venture-capital firms dropped 35% in 2025, the most anemic stretch in at least six years, with money flowing primarily to the most trusted investment firms as companies stay private longer.

From The Wall Street Journal

More than two dozen technology companies have gone public so far this year, which bankers see as a healthy sign after years of anemic tech offerings.

From The Wall Street Journal

The increases will likely further constrain Britain’s anemic economic growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

He was sacked three times, intercepted twice, brought down in the end zone for a safety and he finished with an anemic passer rating of 50.6.

From Los Angeles Times

All our picks boast a dividend yield above the S&P 500’s anemic 1%—and most of them offer a payout rate that’s double the average.

From Barron's

Related Words

• feeble
• frail
• sickly