Meaning & Definition of word "Sickly"
to
Sickly
/ˈsɪkli/
adjective:
- 1. affected by illness or disease; unhealthy.
- Example: The sickly child had to stay home from school.
- 2. having a pale or unhealthy color; gaunt.
- Example: She looked sickly after weeks of not feeling well.
- 3. characterized by excessive sentimentality; overly sentimental.
- Example: The movie was so sickly sweet that I couldn't finish it.
- 4. tending toward sickness or poor health; weak.
- Example: He had a sickly disposition, often falling ill.
Etymology
From the word sick + -ly.
Common Phrases and Expressions
sickly sweet:
An excessively sweet, often cloying taste or smell.
sickly child:
A child who is often ill or has a pale appearance.
sickly pale:
An appearance that is very pale due to illness.
sickly smile:
A forced or unnatural smile, often reflecting discomfort.
Related Words
ill:
suffering from a disease or not well.
ailing:
suffering from an illness.
unwell:
not healthy; ill.
Slang Meanings of sickly
Meaning: Something that is off or not right.
Example Sentence: That food looks sickly, I wouldn't eat it.
Meaning: Feeble or weak in character or spirit.
Example Sentence: His sickly attitude made it hard for him to make friends.