anemic

adjective

ane·​mic ə-ˈnē-mik 

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 

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

The 76ers controlled play throughout the third quarter — outscoring the offensively anemic Celtics 24-14 — and carried an 82-63 lead into the fourth. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026

Susan Collins is an anemic and tired candidate. —semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026

Temporary bridge funding from universities is drying up, existing grants are nearing their end, and the flow of new NIH awards is anemic. —Anil Oza, STAT, 30 Apr. 2026

But Ottawa’s anemic power play again couldn’t generate any quality looks against a high-pressure penalty kill. —ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see anemia

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anemic

• ischaemic
• ischemic
• leukemic
• phonemic
• racemic
• uremic
• hyperglycemic
• hypoglycemic
• uraemic