Sickly
ˈsɪkli
Definitions
2 meaningsShowing signs of poor health; unhealthy or prone to illness.
ˈsɪkli
Ill or unhealthy in appearance or constitution.
The sickly kitten needed constant care to recover from its illness.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone who always looks like they might be catching a cold or aren't feeling well. They might have pale skin, and they might cough. That person or thing looks sickly.
👶 For kids: Looking or seeming not very healthy, like you might be getting a cold.
More Examples
A sickly aroma of decay wafted from the old building.
The sickly yellow of the dying leaves indicated the tree's poor health.
How It's Used
"The child looked sickly, with pale skin and a persistent cough."
"The sickly plants in the garden needed more sunlight."
Causing feelings of nausea or disgust; unpleasant to the senses or emotions.
ˈsɪkli
Causing nausea or distaste.
The sickly scent of the spoiled fruit filled the kitchen.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, something can be so sweet or overdone that it makes you feel a little sick to your stomach or that you don't like it. Think of a dessert that's way too sugary. That taste, smell, or feeling can be described as sickly.
👶 For kids: Making you feel a little bit yucky, like too much sugar can.
More Examples
She found the sickly sweetness of the cheap wine unpleasant.
The sickly green of the food coloring made her lose her appetite.
How It's Used
"The sickly sweetness of the cloying perfume made her feel faint."
"The sickly sentimentality of the film bored the critics."
Synonyms
From Middle English *sikly*, equivalent to sick + -ly. The suffix -ly often turns an adjective into another adjective signifying 'resembling' or 'characteristic of'.
In historical texts, 'sickly' often described a state of being prone to sickness or an unhealthy appearance.
Memory tip
Think of someone who often looks pale and weak - they are sickly.