1
as in frail
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health
a sickly foal that seemed to catch everything that the other horses had
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in poisonous
bad for the well-being of the body
lungs scarred by years of exposure to the sickly air of the coal mines
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sickly
If your once-vigorous plant is starting to look sickly, spider mites may be the culprits.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
The sickly childhoods of children’s literature likely reflect a number of factors.
—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 May 2026
Soon Collie is ensnared in a plot to kidnap a sickly rich boy that immediately goes off the rails.
—
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
The Republic turns a sickly pale.
—
Big Think,
4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
The sickly childhoods of children’s literature likely reflect a number of factors.
—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
11 May 2026
Soon Collie is ensnared in a plot to kidnap a sickly rich boy that immediately goes off the rails.
—
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
The Republic turns a sickly pale.
—
Big Think,
4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sickly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickly
Adjective
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The law had said medically frail people include those who have substance use disorders, disabilities or serious medical conditions.
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Roosevelt credits that experience with transforming him from a frail, nearsighted youth into a rugged individual who years later would become the 26th president and a pioneering conservationist.
Adjective
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All of this played out against an increasingly poisonous political environment.
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Sago palm, oleander, foxglove, azaleas and lily of the valley are all common and all poisonous.
Adjective
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The system has long been mired in controversy, including exam paper leaks and technical failures, placing a crushing burden on students, and financial strain on families investing everything in their children for a promise that can often appear fragile.
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However, price bulls highlight a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and past IEA surplus forecasts that failed to depress prices.
Adjective
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Decomposing food can release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas synonymous with landfills and garbage.
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Low employee morale often grows from ongoing negative interactions and toxic workplace cultures.
Adjective
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Having a sick pet is emotionally a lot to handle.
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Preventing infestation Just because one calf is sick doesn’t mean the entire herd will get it, Cammack said.
Adjective
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From downtown Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley, tens of thousands were enveloped in unhealthful levels of smoke, even as some local officials told residents that the air posed no danger.
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The soil may contain pathogens, pesticides and other unhealthful things.
Adjective
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Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Adjective
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After more than a decade as a reviewer, Jason Bennett has an unhealthy love for rogue-like survival games and terrible puns.
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Air quality in the Marysvale area is expected to reach unhealthy levels by the afternoon and evening.
Cite this Entry
“Sickly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickly. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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