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sickliness

sickliness

7.4
A state of being often ill and weak for a long time
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪklɪnəs/
translation icon : enfermedad
  • Years of poverty contributed to his sickliness and lack of energy.

Examples

  • Despite her sickliness, she remained determined to finish her studies.

  • His constant sickliness made it difficult for him to keep up with his classmates during the school year.

  • The child's sickliness worried his parents and required frequent visits to the doctor.

  • Her constant sickliness worried her family.

  • The child's sickliness made it difficult for him to play outside.

  • The patient's sickliness was evident as she struggled to regain her strength after the illness.

  • The doctor noted the child's sickliness and suggested a more nutritious diet to improve her health.

Synonyms

illness
vssickliness
693 1.1

A time when a person is sick and cannot do normal things

highlights repeated episodes and long-term weakness rather than one condition
sickness
vssickliness
103 1.0

A time when your body is not healthy

refers to recurring bouts and long-term weakness rather than one episode
infirmity
vssickliness
8 6.6

A weakness that makes it hard to do everyday things, often after illness or old age

means frequent sickness over long periods rather than single weakness
ill health
vssickliness
7 3.0

Being sick or having a long-term problem with your body

refers to repeated episodes of illness and ongoing frailty
unhealthiness
vssickliness
1 3.9

A state of poor physical condition that causes problems

focuses on repeated bouts of poor health rather than single episodes
unwellness
vssickliness
8.1

A time when a person feels sick or has health problems

indicates repeated or chronic poor health rather than a single temporary episode

Antonyms

52 3.2

Good physical and mental health that people try to keep

1 1.6

Being well in body and mind

How Sickly

debilitation
1 8.1
sickliness
7.4
frailty
3 5.0
health
1.0
robustness
2 5.5

Surface Forms

sickliness singular
sicklinesses plural

Morphology

sickliness = sickly (transparent) = sick + ly + ness

Derived directly from the adjective 'sickly' by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness', so the meaning is predictable.

Etymology

The word sickliness comes from the simple word sick, which means 'ill', plus the endings -ly and -ness that make an adjective into a name for a quality or 'state of being'. So sickliness means the 'state of being often ill', which is why we use it for someone who is frequently weak or in poor health.