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Poorly - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Poorly is an adverb meaning in an unsatisfactory or inadequate manner. It can describe something done badly or a state of ill health, as in She performed poorly on the test or He felt poorly after the trip.

poorly

/ˈpʊrli/ /ˈpɔːli/

Definition:

In a manner that is unsatisfactory, inadequate, or not well.

Synonyms:

Badly, inadequately, unsatisfactorily, incompetently

Part of Speech:

adverb, adjective

Antonyms:

Well, competently

Common Collocations:

Poorly managed, poorly designed, poorly executed, poorly understood

Derivatives:

Poorliness (noun), poor (adjective)

Usage Tips:

Use "poorly" to describe something done badly or someone in bad health ("She felt poorly").

Common Phrases:

Poorly lit, poorly timed, poorly made

Etymology:

Derived from "poor" (Old French "povre") + "-ly," indicating manner or quality.

Examples:

  • 1. She performed poorly on the test yesterday.
  • 2. The project was poorly planned and failed quickly.
  • 3. He felt poorly after eating spoiled food.
  • 4. The room was poorly lit and hard to see in.

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