sickly

American  

[sik-lee] / ˈsɪk li /

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.

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adverb

1. in a sick or sickly manner.

verb (used with object)

sicklied, sicklying

1. to cover with a sickly hue.

sickly British  

/ 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

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adverb

1. in a sick or sickly manner

Other Word Forms

• sickliness noun

Etymology

Origin of sickly

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

Example Sentences

My butterflies awaken and start their sickly rubbing of my insides.

From Literature

Smog compromised the health of kids and the sickly and the elderly.

From Los Angeles Times

In April, a group of Inuit hunters encountered the battered Advance and its sickly crew.

From Literature

But the team doesn’t just apply a flattering touch-up to sickly markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

He did his best to amputate above the sickly parts in the hope of saving the patient’s life.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ailing
• cranky
• feeble
• infirm
• lackluster