poorly

1 of 2

adverb

poor·​ly ˈpu̇r-lē How to pronounce poorly (audio)
ˈpȯr-
: in a poor condition or manner
especially : in an inferior or imperfect way : badly
sang poorly

poorly

2 of 2

adjective

: somewhat ill : indisposed

Examples of poorly in a Sentence

Adverb he tends to perform poorly on standardized tests Adjective she stayed home because she was feeling poorly
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Considering how reliable betting markets can be, it’s been revealing to watch how poorly equipped it’s been to handle what has been perceived as a close race, supplying smart gamblers the opportunity to make a fortune, regardless of who wins on Sunday. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025 The government denies wrongdoing. Rail unions say the network has been poorly maintained despite rail service upgrades to provide faster trains in recent years. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Both the United States and the United Nations have stepped back from leadership roles, a reflection of how poorly interventions in Haiti have gone and also the wide range of issues in other parts of the world at the moment. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Story will be a free agent and at this stage why would an accomplished player stay with the poorly run Rockies? BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2021 See All Example Sentences for poorly

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of poorly was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Poorly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poorly. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

poorly

adjective
poor·​ly
ˈpu̇(ə)r-lē,
ˈpō(ə)r-
: somewhat ill

More from Merriam-Webster on poorly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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