as in fragile
chronically or repeatedly suffering from poor health
a weakly baby who required repeated hospitalizations
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as in feebly
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Recent Examples of weakly
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
But Rodríguez struck out Olson on a check swing, and Austin Riley weakly rolled a change-up to shortstop to end the threat.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Silseth threw him one pitch, and Alvarez grounded weakly to second.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
There were sketches that ran too long, or ended weakly, but were generally redeemed by a young(ish), confident 11-member cast that made the most of them.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The system is set up to detect what are called light dark matter particles, which interact so weakly with regular matter that other methods of detecting them have failed.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
With his team down by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Araúz pinch hit for Allen Córdoba and grounded out weakly to second base.
—Melissa Lockard, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead, the commissioner weakly would not even commit to an investigation of Tisch at the Super Bowl.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs.
—Peter Simons, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Because Anna and Matteo were never actually together, her clear attraction with Michael doesn’t face any meaningful obstacles, aside from some obligatory (and weakly justified) initial sniping between the two leads.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
But Rodríguez struck out Olson on a check swing, and Austin Riley weakly rolled a change-up to shortstop to end the threat.
—Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Silseth threw him one pitch, and Alvarez grounded weakly to second.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
There were sketches that ran too long, or ended weakly, but were generally redeemed by a young(ish), confident 11-member cast that made the most of them.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The system is set up to detect what are called light dark matter particles, which interact so weakly with regular matter that other methods of detecting them have failed.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
With his team down by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Araúz pinch hit for Allen Córdoba and grounded out weakly to second base.
—Melissa Lockard, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Instead, the commissioner weakly would not even commit to an investigation of Tisch at the Super Bowl.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs.
—Peter Simons, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weakly
Adjective
-
These conditions have fueled widespread reports of labor exploitation, environmental damage and violent disputes over territory, while mercury contamination from gold extraction has posed serious risks to indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Installations create striking contrasts between fragile glass and living plants, a hallmark of Chihuly’s large-scale outdoor works.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Heathcliff’s racial ambiguity — so central to the novel’s violence and otherness — is feebly erased.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
One man aboard the boat knew how to navigate the mangroves and sandbars of the keys, and with the late summer sun beating down on the rafters, the boat pushed out feebly into the open ocean.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Viel made a weak pass that led to the goal but had a strong hit on McDavid in the opening 20 minutes as well.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With the uncertainty caused by the war with Iran, the price of oil going through the roof, and tariffs complicating company supply chains, analysts expected the labor market to get weaker.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
In the new film, Jackson is played by his nephew Jaafar, with a faintly familiar smile and highly familiar dance moves.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The fans faintly begin chanting his name, then their voices disappear into a hush.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s based on the dramatic and emotionally wrenching personal life of Southern Gothic author Carson McCullers, a physically frail but powerful novelist, adept at portraying the loneliness and isolation of misfits and outcasts.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Bucks County, Pennsylvania, grandmother, then 76, looked frail but resolute.—
Craig R. McCoy,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Even with its unnecessary detours, Singing reaches this wild reverie in the end—a voice reclaimed to report, softly, from the fathomless depths of the human experience.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Sylvia, my copilot, snores softly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The dominant color is a sickly blue, tinged with greens and purples.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
-
There’s a painterly look to the image, rather than the typical slop-style sickly sheen, but the AI origins are still unmistakable.—
Cath Virginia,
The Verge,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Once repair is complete, growth hormone activates a brainstem region called the locus coeruleus, which gently nudges you toward waking.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Take the time to scan from top to bottom, and don’t be afraid to gently move items aside.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Weakly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weakly. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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