as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests a poorly drawn figure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
If things are going poorly on the domestic front, a trip can also offer a distraction.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 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
Smaller black holes are the remnants of large dead stars, but the origin of the supermassive ones is poorly understood.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
If things are going poorly on the domestic front, a trip can also offer a distraction.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 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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The enterprise software industry faces real challenges from AI, and the crop of 2021-2022 LBOs in this space will age badly; keep an eye on Coupa, a 2022 Thoma Bravo take-private, Zendesk, and Hellman & Friedman/Permira buyouts of the same year.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
18 June 2026
-
He has not been seen publicly since, leading to speculation that he was badly injured in the attack.—
Somayeh Malekian,
ABC News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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If healthier people drop out of the risk pool, fewer people subsidize the people who get sick, Gidwani said.—
Andrew Jones,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
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Nara Organics issued the recall of all lots of Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula after, according to the company recall notice, the FDA and CDC told the company about babies sick with infant botulism in California, Pennsylvania and Washington.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
Adverb
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In one of them, a spot attacking Harman, Checchi included a photo of the lieutenant governor — and not a bad-looking one at that.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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In one of them, a spot attacking Harman, Checchi included a photo of the lieutenant governor — and not a bad-looking one at that.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That down year is not necessarily an indication of Jefferson as a talent.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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The down alternative also keeps you supportive and cool all night long.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
17 June 2026
Adverb
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The film follows a Bigfoot hoax that goes horribly wrong in the middle of an actual Sasquatch hot spot, leading to a chaotic struggle between the hoaxers, investigators, and a supernatural force that defies explanation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
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Directed by Jean Rollin, the film centers on a first date that goes horribly wrong after the couple get lost in a sprawling cemetery.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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The call was upgraded to a hazardous material response after others reported feeling ill, Nolan said.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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Additionally, screening is in place before travel is allowed from affected regions and people are only infectious once visibly ill, according to Kluge.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poorly. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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