English Reference
Adjective

anemic

adj.
C1 Advanced US /əˈnimɪk/ ane·mic UK spelling anaemic

adj.having a low amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin, which makes you feel weak and tired. It can also describe something that looks pale or lacks energy.

adj.relating to or suffering from anemia, a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin. Often used figuratively to describe something that is pale, weak, or lacking in vitality.


SIMPLE

The doctor said he was anemic and needed more iron.

CONTEXTUAL

After weeks of heavy rain, the garden looked anemic and the flowers were struggling to bloom.

COMPLEX

The report was criticized for being anemic, as it provided little data and failed to address the systemic issues that had led to the company's decline.

For far too many of us, particularly those with the musculature of an anaemic grasshopper, nightmares of the school gymnasium spring to mind, with those familiar and ignominious collapses on to a sweat-speckled floor.

The Guardian· 7 Sept 2026

An anemic attack has seen McInnes push the club to sign reinforcements, including Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota.

The Guardian· 26 Aug 2026

From anemia + -ic.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated