feel poorly

USAGE SUMMARY

"feel poorly" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe feeling ill or sick. For example: "I haven't been myself lately and I'm starting to feel poorly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

These will make you feel poorly.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their uprising gathered support from Ivoirians in the north, who feel poorly treated by the southern-based government.

The New York Times

Coaches can also feel poorly equipped to adapt sports for disabled athletes and ensure safe conditions for all athletes.

The New York Times - Sports

The writer can never remember his sister's sweater size & this sort of thing makes him feel poorly at Christmastime when he starts shopping.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, December 25 , 1954P. 19 The writer can never remember his sister's sweater size & this sort of thing makes him feel poorly at Christmastime when he starts shopping.

The New Yorker

Her father, Jack, an Olympic cyclist and good-natured lunk, is forever brewing a cup of tea for his lovely wife and inquiring of his daughter, "Do you feel poorly?" The tear-welling virtue never stops.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

— Feeling poorly?

The New Yorker

While ambitious, Missing often feels poorly planned.

The New York Times - Tech

Most felt poorly prepared to care for terminally ill patients.

Stanford University

Similarly, capitals often felt poorly informed about developments of interest to them.

Britannica

An early priority was to mend fences with composers who felt poorly treated by C.R.I.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel poorly" to politely describe a state of mild illness or discomfort, particularly when inquiring about someone's health or discussing a temporary condition.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "feel poorly" can sound somewhat formal or old-fashioned in very casual conversation. Opt for more common phrases like "feel sick" or "feel unwell" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel poorly" functions as a predicate within a sentence, describing a state of being. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is experiencing some form of illness or discomfort. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

29%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "feel poorly" is a grammatically correct and reasonably common way to describe a state of being unwell. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it effectively communicates illness or discomfort, finding usage in both inquiries about health and self-reporting of symptoms. While suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts like news reporting, it may sound somewhat old-fashioned in more casual settings where phrases like "feel sick" or "feel unwell" are preferred. Consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use "feel poorly".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel unwell

A more general term for not feeling healthy.

feel sick

Suggests nausea or a need to vomit.

feel ill

A formal term for not being in good health.

feel under the weather

An idiomatic expression for feeling slightly unwell.

feel out of sorts

Describes a general feeling of discomfort or unease.

feel lousy

An informal term for feeling very bad.

feel terrible

Indicates a strong degree of physical or emotional discomfort.

feel dreadful

Similar to 'feel terrible' but potentially more severe.

feel weak

Suggests a lack of physical strength.

feel faint

Indicates a risk of losing consciousness.

FAQs

What does it mean to "feel poorly"?

To "feel poorly" means to experience a state of being unwell, sick, or not in good health. It's a polite and somewhat formal way to describe feeling ill.

How can I use "feel poorly" in a sentence?

You can use "feel poorly" to describe your own condition or to inquire about someone else's health. For example, "I've been feeling poorly all day" or "Do you "feel poorly"?"

What's a less formal way to say "feel poorly"?

Alternatives include "feel sick", "feel unwell", or "feel under the weather". These phrases are more commonly used in casual conversation.

Is it better to say "feel poorly" or "feel bad" when describing health?

"Feel bad" is a more general expression of unhappiness, while "feel poorly" specifically refers to one's health. Use "feel poorly" when discussing physical or mental well-being.