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Definitions

sickly

[sik-lee] / ˈsɪk li /
ADJECTIVE
not healthy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ailing cranky feeble infirm lackluster
WEAK
below par bilious delicate diseased down dragging faint in poor health indisposed laid low languid low mean off-color out of action out of shape pallid peaked peaky pining poorly rocky run down seedy sickish unhealthy wan weak
Antonyms
STRONGEST
healthy hearty sound strong
WEAK
fine well
ADJECTIVE
revolting
Synonyms
STRONGEST
morose
WEAK
bilious cloying insalubrious mawkish morbid nauseating noisome noxious sick unwholesome
Antonyms
WEAK
fine nice wholesome

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Born coughing, Patti Smith was a sickly kid.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Smith was a sickly child, contracting bronchial pneumonia, tuberculosis, German measles, mumps and chicken pox which kept her in "periods of lengthy bed rest".

From BBC • Nov. 4, 2025

Even before ICE got him, he had been sickly.

From Slate • Oct. 27, 2025

Garrett then takes one major step further, looking at the sickly side of modernity through the lens of the MeToo movement.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2025

I extend my palm to catch the sickly overhead light.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.