as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests a poorly drawn figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sick
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
she stayed home because she was feeling poorly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of poorly
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Her interview initially goes poorly, but Ferguson immediately takes a liking to her, which earns her a position on the duchess’ staff.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Adverb
Even a run that ended in the Elite Eight — and Arizona hasn’t been to the Elite Eight in 11 years — would be poorly received.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Her interview initially goes poorly, but Ferguson immediately takes a liking to her, which earns her a position on the duchess’ staff.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
This involves having a poorly or non-functioning colon and is not usually reversible.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
The researchers and their partners are also working to track local residents’ health and to measure how well or poorly interventions like masks and household air filters protected them.
—Maggie Astor, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for poorly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poorly
Adverb
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Better inside than outside There is a growing bipartisan consensus that Mullin will replace Noem, who badly mismanaged her portfolio.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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Molliver said Liam is back in his suburban Minneapolis school, but that he and his father were badly shaken by their time in detention.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In California courts, sick and dying workers are suing quartz slab makers and countertop vendors — including several Bay Area shops, along with Home Depot, Lowe’s and Costco.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
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The union representing the city’s subway workers has filed suit against the MTA, arguing that transit agency honchos failed to get proper public comment before deciding not to back-fill sick subway station agents.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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There were no debates involved, no refs called in, no bad-mouthing.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The dialogue sometimes lapses from bad-funny to just bad.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The success of the farm system, much like the major league roster, will be predicated on how a number of position player prospects respond to down seasons.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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With a lot of pressure on A&M to perform after a down year in 2025, relying on a true freshman at a critical position is definitely a gamble.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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After a meeting with one of them goes horribly wrong, Devlin and her publicist Sylvie, another a victim of Hollywood’s censure, find revenge offers a unique albeit gruesome ingredient for Glob’s products.—
Paula L. Woods,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
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The damage done to the North African country’s records of cultural heritage could be horribly destructive and irreversible, warned a call for solidarity released in 2023 by the International Council of Museums.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His first game was at West Bromwich Albion, where Kinnear was taken ill at the team hotel, leading to Chris Hughton being placed in temporary charge.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Efforts to reduce deaths are challenging partly because the inmate population inside the jails has been increasingly older, and ill, Luna said, with many of them suffering from drug addiction or long-term conditions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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