sicklier
Looking more unwell
Sicklier is the comparative form of sickly—more prone to illness, more pale and weak in appearance, or more suggestive of disease.
A child who catches every cold is sicklier than her siblings.
A plant in poor soil grows sicklier than one well-tended.
The patient looked sicklier each day.
Lacking color intensity
- sallowUnhealthily yellowish complexion
- wanPale and unwell-looking
- ashenPale, grayish-white
- pallidUnhealthily lacking color
pasty · waxen · ghostly · chalky · colorless · drained · blanched · cadaverous
Weak and breakable
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- weakLacking power or force
- infirmWeak in body
debilitated · enfeebled · delicate · enervated · languid · listless · shaky · unsteady
In poor health
- languishingGrowing weak, losing vigor
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- decliningDecreasing in strength
fading · withering · weakening · worsening · failing · flagging · drooping · wilting
Excessively sweet or sentimental
- saccharineExaggeratedly sentimental
- syrupyExcessively sweet or sentimental
- treaclyExcessively sweet or sentimental
- sugaryContaining much sweetener
oversweet · nauseating · sentimental · maudlin · mushy · sappy · schmaltzy · gushing
pale
Lacking color intensity
pallid · pasty · waxen · ghostly · chalky · colorless · drained · blanched · cadaverous · deathly
frail
Weak and breakable
infirm · debilitated · enfeebled · delicate · enervated · languid · listless · shaky · unsteady · tottering
ailing
In poor health
- languishingGrowing weak, losing vigor
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
declining · fading · withering · weakening · worsening · failing · flagging · drooping · wilting · sinking
cloying
Excessively sweet or sentimental
- saccharineExaggeratedly sentimental
- syrupyExcessively sweet or sentimental
- treaclyExcessively sweet or sentimental
sugary · oversweet · nauseating · sentimental · maudlin · mushy · sappy · schmaltzy · gushing · icky