Word
sickly
Phoneticssick·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪkɫi/
UK/sˈɪkli/
Definitions
01often ill
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. often getting sick or having a weak body.
adj. frequently ill or habitually in poor health; possessing a weak constitution.
“He was a sickly child who spent most of his winters indoors.”
“The biographer noted that the poet had been a sickly youth, a factor that likely contributed to his introspective nature.”
02looking unwell
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. looking pale or unhealthy in a way that suggests illness.
adj. appearing ill, infirm, or unhealthy; having a complexion or appearance suggestive of disease.
“The hospital lights gave everyone a sickly yellow look.”
“After weeks of working underground, the miners emerged with a sickly pallor that shocked their families.”
03weak light or growth
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. weak and not bright, or not growing well.
adj. lacking intensity, vigour, or healthy development; often applied to light or vegetation.
“A few sickly plants struggled to grow in the dark corner of the garden.”
“The moon cast a sickly light over the ruins, barely illuminating the path ahead.”
04in an unhealthy way
C2 · Proficiency Literary
adv. in a way that shows someone is sick or not healthy.
adv. in a manner indicative of illness or poor health.
“He smiled sickly at the doctor, trying to look better than he felt.”
“The engine sputtered sickly before finally dying in the middle of the desert road.”
Synonyms
Usage
Often used to modify nouns related to appearance, such as 'complexion' or 'pallor', or sensory nouns like 'smell' and 'sweetness'.
Etymology
From Middle English seekly, sekely, siklich, sekeliche, equivalent to sick + -ly. Possibly a modification of Old English sīcle (“sickly”) and/or derived from Old Norse sjúkligr (“sickly”). Cognate with Dutch ziekelijk, Middle High German siechlich, Danish sygelig, Swedish sjuklig, Icelandic sjúklegur. The verb is from the adjective.
From sick + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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