poorly 1 of 2

adverb

ˈpu̇r-lē How to pronounce poorly (audio)
Definition of poorlynext
as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests a poorly drawn figure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

poorly

2 of 2

adjective

as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body she stayed home because she was feeling poorly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of poorly
Adverb
Henderson has had a nightmare of a 2026 season, playing poorly while also having bad luck at times. — ABC News, 26 July 2026 Romo was reportedly stopped on a highway and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, FOX6 in Milwaukee reported. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
Adjective
For however poorly things are going — and the bad tone set by the starters has leaked into some defensive lapses and some pressing at the plate — the Padres got themselves into a really favorable position before this. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025 This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible. — Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for poorly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poorly
  1. badly
  2. sick
  3. bad
  4. down
  5. horribly
  6. ill
Adverb
  • When planning rules protect views rather than families, something has gone badly wrong.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Mohammad Taj, who travelled to Delhi from neighboring Haryana state, and whose face was badly bruised in the Monday crackdown, said the march heading to parliament had been peaceful.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of badly
Adjective
  • Veterinarians for famed Big Bear bald eagle Jackie, who was found sick and on the ground weeks ago, still don’t know what’s wrong with her.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • What stays with me is not just what happened when my father got sick, but what didn’t happen before.
    — Guy Leitersdorf, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sick
Adverb
  • Another would be to coat your thumbs with a bad-tasting substance.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
  • Of course, Hole himself isn’t averse to breaking bad, either.
    — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of bad
Adjective
  • On the edge, Dre’Mont Jones tallied a pressure in team drills, and Elijah Ponder had a down day relative to some recent practices.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the Chiefs having a down year and missing the playoffs, Kelce was still productive last season.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of down
Adverb
  • The green team’s struggles are already horribly familiar for Alonso this year, particularly as its first Honda engine has been largely off the pace of the leaders.
    — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Past air shows have gone horribly wrong when military aviators have cut their margins too close.
    — Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026
Definition of horribly
Adjective
  • More than 1,900 people across nine states became ill after eating at Taco Bell, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • And there were plenty of heroic acts by thousands of health care workers who toiled tirelessly, risking their own lives to care for those who had fallen ill during the pandemic.
    — Steve Brozak, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of ill

Browse Nearby Words

poorish
poorly
poor-mouth
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Cite this Entry

“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on poorly

Nglish: Translation of poorly for Spanish Speakers

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