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 
Example Sentences
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 Early in a season full of change, the league finds itself in the middle of one of its most anemic offensive campaigns ever. 
WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 The Lions, 0-8 and the only winless team in the NFL, have one of the league's most anemic offenses. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2021 California’s anemic summer rain has dropped 41% in the past 30 years. Seth Borenstein, chicagotribune.com, 20 Sep. 2020 He was covered in fleas, had ear infections and was anemic. Landon Mion, Fox News, 3 Aug. 2022 Researchers who have the audacity to go public with their concerns typically find that the reaction is anemic. David Robert Grimes, The Atlantic, 29 July 2022 In District 6, Gonez raised more than six times as much as all of her opponents combined, but the independent spending on her behalf was anemic compared with the other races. Howard Blumestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2022 For Republicans, anemic fund-raising, missteps by Donald J. Trump and weak candidates could stand in the way of bigger statehouse gains in November. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 But from a macroeconomic perspective, some experts think those missteps imply that the economy in the first quarter wasn't as anemic as the drop in GDP might otherwise imply. Martha C. White, CNN, 28 July 2022 See More
WSJ, 18 Apr. 2022 The Lions, 0-8 and the only winless team in the NFL, have one of the league's most anemic offenses. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 12 Nov. 2021 California’s anemic summer rain has dropped 41% in the past 30 years. Seth Borenstein, chicagotribune.com, 20 Sep. 2020 He was covered in fleas, had ear infections and was anemic. Landon Mion, Fox News, 3 Aug. 2022 Researchers who have the audacity to go public with their concerns typically find that the reaction is anemic. David Robert Grimes, The Atlantic, 29 July 2022 In District 6, Gonez raised more than six times as much as all of her opponents combined, but the independent spending on her behalf was anemic compared with the other races. Howard Blumestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2022 For Republicans, anemic fund-raising, missteps by Donald J. Trump and weak candidates could stand in the way of bigger statehouse gains in November. New York Times, 1 Aug. 2022 But from a macroeconomic perspective, some experts think those missteps imply that the economy in the first quarter wasn't as anemic as the drop in GDP might otherwise imply. Martha C. White, CNN, 28 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see anemia
First Known Use
1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1
anemic
adjective
as in bloodless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- bloodless
- sickly
- white
- sallow
- pallid
- untanned
- whitened
- waxy
- pale
- pasty
- doughy
- waxen
- ashen
- sick
- cadaverous
- sallowish
- paled
- whey-faced
- ashy
- wan
- white-faced
- livid
- blanched
- peaked
- lurid
- mealy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- red
- ruddy
- sanguine
- rosy
- florid
- blooming
- glowing
- rubicund
- flush
- pink
- full-blooded
- flushed
- blushing