Sickly

/ˈsɪkli/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

affected by illness or disease; unhealthy.

The sickly child had to stay home from school.

having a pale or unhealthy color; gaunt.

She looked sickly after weeks of not feeling well.

characterized by excessive sentimentality; overly sentimental.

The movie was so sickly sweet that I couldn't finish it.

tending toward sickness or poor health; weak.

He had a sickly disposition, often falling ill.

From the word sick + -ly.

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.

ill

suffering from a disease or not well.

ailing

suffering from an illness.

unwell

not healthy; ill.

Something that is off or not right.

That food looks sickly, I wouldn't eat it.

Feeble or weak in character or spirit.

His sickly attitude made it hard for him to make friends.