sickly

[sik-lee]

adjective

sicklier, sickliest 

1. not strong; unhealthy; ailing.

   Synonyms: infirm, feeble, sick, puny, weak, frail

2. of, connected with, or arising from ill health.

   a sickly complexion.

3. marked by the prevalence of ill health, as a region.

   the epidemic left the town sickly.

4. causing sickness.

5. nauseating.

6. maudlin and insipid; mawkish.

   sickly sentimentality.

7. faint or feeble, as light or color.

adverb

1. in a sick or sickly manner.

verb (used with object)

sicklied, sicklying 

1. to cover with a sickly hue.

sickly

/ ˈsɪklɪ /

adjective

1. disposed to frequent ailments; not healthy; weak

2. of, relating to, or caused by sickness

3. (of a smell, taste, etc) causing revulsion or nausea

4. (of light or colour) faint or feeble

5. mawkish; insipid

   sickly affectation

adverb

1. in a sick or sickly manner

Other Word Forms

• sickliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sickly¹

1300–50; Middle English siklich, sekly (adj.). See sick ¹, -ly

Example Sentences

Garrett then takes one major step further, looking at the sickly side of modernity through the lens of the MeToo movement.

From Salon

Americans want to spend their time and money on things that don’t feel so tinged with the sickly odor of United States nationalism, and they’re finding it wherever they can.

From Salon

To the north, a sickly orange haze hung along the horizon, a reminder of the inferno that had reduced parts of their school to a ragged tangle of charred masonry, metal and wood.

From Los Angeles Times

These eco-conscious marathoners wanted more than water savings when they tore out their sickly lawn in Long Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

But though “Lurker” could certainly push the envelope further, Matthew’s ascent, fall from grace and gradual climb back up wouldn’t feel as realistic as it needs to for the film to land its sickly ending.

From Salon

Related Words

• ailing 
• cranky 
• feeble 
• infirm 
• lackluster