sickly

/ˈsɪkli/
adverb
  1. In a way that suggests illness or weakness; unhealthily.
    • The child coughed sickly and lay back down.
    • The old dog moved sickly across the floor.
    • She smiled sickly, trying to hide her fever.
adjective
  1. Often ill or in poor health; weak and prone to sickness.
    • The sickly kitten needed extra care and medicine.
    • His sickly appearance worried the doctor.
    • As a child, she was sickly and missed many days of school.
  2. Causing or suggesting poor health; unhealthy in appearance or character.
    • A sickly yellow color covered the walls of the old hospital.
    • He gave a sickly smile that didn't reach his eyes.
    • The plant's sickly leaves indicated it needed more sunlight.
  3. Excessively sweet or sentimental, often in a cloying way.
    • His sickly compliments felt fake and uncomfortable.
    • The movie's sickly romance made me roll my eyes.
    • She couldn't stand the sickly perfume that filled the room.
What does "sickly" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean