sickly

Word parts

sick + -ly

Adjective

Positive sickly

Comparative more sickly

Superlative most sickly

1. A sickly person is someone who is sick, especially someone who is sick very frequently.

   He was a sickly child.

2. Something that appears sickly appears diseased and unhealthy.
   • Synonym: sick-looking
3. Something that gives off a sickly light doesn't give off very much light; it is dim but not completely dark.
   • Synonyms: faint, pale and dim
4. A sickly action or activity is one that lacks intensity and vigor; it is done weakly.

   He flashed me a sickly smile.

5. Something that is sickly is associated with poor moral or mental well-being.
6. Something that is sickly is disgusting, especially something that makes you nauseous.

   The house was filled with a sickly smell; it smelled like a rotting corpse.

7. Something sickly sweet is too sweet; it is overly sweet.
   • Synonym: saccharine

Adverb

Positive sickly

Comparative more sickly

Superlative most sickly

1. Something done sickly is done in a sick way.

   She sickly coughed into her arm.