# poorly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈpʊə.li/ · frequency rank #6,082

## Definitions
1. In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
2. With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
3. Meanly; without spirit.
4. Without skill or merit.
5. In a negative manner; with disapproval; unfavorably.

## Etymology
From Middle English poorly, pouerly, poreliche, poureliche, pouerliche, equivalent to poor + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **porky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poorly-vs-porky)
- **prolly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poorly-vs-prolly)
- **poor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poor-vs-poorly)
- **pool** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pool-vs-poorly)
- **pools** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pools-vs-poorly)
- **Polly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/polly-vs-poorly)
- **Poole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poole-vs-poorly)
- **poodle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/poodle-vs-poorly)
- **pearly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pearly-vs-poorly)

## Common misspellings (9)
`oporly`, `poolry`, `poorlly`, `poorlyy`, `poorrly`, `pooryl`, `porly`, `poroly`, `ppoorly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/poorly