Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Relating to or suffering from anemia.
  • adjective Lacking vitality; listless and weak.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Pertaining to or affected with anemia; deficient in blood; bloodless: as, anemic symptoms; an anemic patient.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of or pertaining to anemia.
  • adjective by extension Weak; listless; lacking power, vigor, vitality, or colorfulness.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective relating to anemia or suffering from anemia
  • adjective lacking vigor or energy

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From anemia +‎ -ic.

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Examples

  • The friction is likely to get rougher if many major economies remain anemic, as projected.

    China Criticizes U.S. For Protectionism By JOE McDONALD 2010

  • Despite the fretting of many Wall Street pundits, U.S. consumer spending, albeit anemic, is still growing.

    Options Plays For Winning Big With Wynn, Netflix And A Hot Chipotle Joseph Hargett 2010

  • I checked the newscritics comments on the launch of Season 2 - reminds me of the "love to hate" stuff with Studio 60, but in anemic numbers and fewer words, so maybe the fun of that groove is wearing off.

    Tin Boxes 2008

  • Washington was particularly anemic from the floor in the first half, shooting 26 percent (7-of-27) overall and missing all nine of its 3-point attempts.

    USATODAY.com 2003

  • "I would use the word anemic," said Shaun Bowler, a political science professor at the University of California Riverside.

    Archive 2004-07-01 2004

  • The recruitment program is described as anemic, training as "severely deficient in nearly every respect," and supervision as poor or in some cases nonexistent.

    NYT > Home Page By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON 2011

  • According to the New York Times, "His (Lakes) failed nomination in 1997 to become C.I.A. director became bogged down as Congressional critics of the Clinton administration chided Mr. Lake for what they called his anemic response to campaign fund-raising abuses that swirled around President Bill Clinton while Mr. Lake was national security adviser.

    Home Page 2008

  • The governor said his own budgeting assumes zero growth in state government revenues for fiscal year starting July 1, 2009, and 3 percent - "anemic" - the following fiscal year.

    Centredaily.com: Local 2009

  • Characterized by anemic growth, the U.S. economy showed signs of hope today when a band of YouTube users outlined a plan for a full economic recovery.

    Pablo Andreu: U.S. Budget Balanced in Giggling Baby Video's Comments Section Pablo Andreu 2011

  • That's why if you are anemic, that is have fewer functioning red blood cells, you feel run down.

    Dr. Andrew Lange: Is Breathing Deeply Really Good For Your Health? 2009

Comments

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  • This is one of those great ones that really evokes its meaning... almost borders on an onomatopoeia. Doesn't it just sound like the flattest word ever?

    December 15, 2006

  • I think this is just a case of you fitting your mental image to the word. Of course, the vowel sound makes it seem small. "a-nee-mic", "wee", "teeny".

    December 16, 2006