anemic

adjective

ane·​mic ə-ˈnē-mik How to pronounce anemic (audio)
Synonyms of anemicnext
1
: relating to or affected with anemia
The blood test indicated that he was slightly anemic.
2
a
: lacking force, vitality, or spirit
an anemic rendition of the song
anemic efforts at enforcement
b
: lacking interest or savor (see savor entry 1 sense 3) : insipid
anemic wines
c
: lacking in substance or quantity
anemic returns on an investment
anemic attendance
anemically
ə-ˈnē-mi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce anemic (audio)
adverb

Examples of anemic in a Sentence

The doctor told me I was slightly anemic. The band played an anemic rendition of a classic love song. Investors are worried about the stock's anemic performance. Officials worried about anemic attendance at the shows. Sales rose an anemic 0.5 percent last quarter.
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.
So even if payroll reports turn anemic, don’t expect the Federal Reserve to come to the rescue because the jobless rate will still be little changed. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 The latest blood tests show Jackie is still anemic, but one measure of her red blood cell count has improved to 17%, according to the Ojai Raptor Center. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 The Cleveland Guardians must address their anemic offense with some urgency. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 According to the Ojai Raptor Center, Jackie is anemic and has inflammation affecting her kidney function. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for anemic

Word History

Etymology

see anemia

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anemic was in 1826

Rhymes for anemic

See All Rhymes for anemic

Browse Nearby Words

anemia
anemic
anemobiagraph
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Anemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anemic. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on anemic

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for anemic

Nglish: Translation of anemic for Spanish Speakers

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