adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anemic
Explanation
Sometimes you can tell just from looking at someone's pale face and lips that they're anemic. If you're anemic, your body has a shortage of healthy red blood cells. Often when someone's diagnosed as being anemic, they're counseled to eat more foods that contain iron, which can help rebuild the red blood cells in their body. Besides looking pale, an anemic person is often tired and weak. Another, non-medical, meaning of anemic is simply "lacking in vitality or energy." Both meanings come originally from the Greek anaimia, "lack of blood." The British spelling of anemic is anaemic.
Vocabulary lists containing anemic
The House on Mango Street
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Death of a Salesman
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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Anemic consumption remains the most daunting challenge owing to labor market strains because sporadic lockdowns have resulted in pay cuts and a hiring freeze."
From Reuters • Jul. 14, 2022
Anemic from an iron deficiency, she spent much of her time in bed.
From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2019
For Western states enduring a debilitating drought, the news is bone-dry bad: Anemic Lake Mead has hit a historic low level.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2015
In their two years in Washington, the Anemic Duo has put up 30 points once — in a 33-30 loss last year to Dallas.
From Washington Post • Oct. 31, 2011
Here's how Chronicle columnist John Lopez, two days earlier, had summarized the team's offensive woes that led them into this seemingly insurmountable hole, in an article headlined, "Anemic Bats Threaten To Splinter Club."
From Seattle Times • May 25, 2010
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
