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Synonyms

peaky

American  
[pee-kee] / ˈpi ki /

adjective

peakier, peakiest

  1. peaked.

peaky British  
/ ˈpiːkɪ /

adjective

  1. wan, emaciated, or sickly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • peakily adverb
  • peakiness noun

Etymology

Origin of peaky

First recorded in 1870–75; peak(ed) 2 + -y 1

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.

A global phenomenon, the "peaky effect" has also inspired a number of tours, with an abundance of tourists flocking to visit local attractions and filming locations.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2025

Enjoy the display until your plant begins to look peaky, then give it a dignified toss into the compost.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 1, 2022

The flow is "really flashy, really peaky," Ng says.

From Science Magazine • Sep. 11, 2019

“Peak TV was once again far from peaky in 2016,” FX Networks executive VP of research Julie Piepenkotter provocatively opined in the press release, and she’s right.

From Salon • Dec. 22, 2016

Mrs Alice Boland thought, his face is peaky, it's the shock.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

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.