Ill vs. Poorly — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 30, 2024
"Ill" often refers to a state of being sick, typically used as an adjective, e.g., feeling ill. "Poorly" can describe poor execution or health, often used as an adverb, e.g., performed poorly.
Difference Between Ill and Poorly
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Ill" is primarily used as an adjective to describe someone suffering from a disease or in poor health, conveying a general state of sickness. In contrast, "poorly" is more versatile, commonly used as an adverb implying substandard performance or condition in various contexts, including health.
"Ill" specifically modifies nouns, usually related to health, such as in "ill health" or "ill patient," directly associating the noun with sickness. "Poorly," however, modifies verbs or adjectives, as in "he performed poorly" or "she is feeling poorly," indicating the manner or state of the subject.
When discussing symptoms or conditions, "ill" implies a more serious or long-term health issue, suggesting a medical condition. "Poorly" suggests a temporary or less severe state, such as feeling unwell due to minor ailments.
In everyday language, "ill" can also signify a negative impact beyond just health, such as in "ill effects" or "ill fortune," which broadens its usage to non-health-related contexts. "Poorly," on the other hand, retains a focus on performance or condition quality, either in health scenarios or in critiquing actions and outcomes.
Both "ill" and "poorly" can be used to discuss health, but "ill" carries a weightier connotation, potentially linked to more severe or recognized medical conditions, whereas "poorly" often implies a subjective feeling of being unwell or a critique of performance.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Adverb (commonly), Adjective (rarely)
Usage in Health
Describes being in a state of sickness; more severe
Often describes a feeling of unwellness; less severe
General Usage
Can describe negative effects broadly
Typically used to describe substandard performance or condition
Associated Terms
Ill health, ill effects
Feeling poorly, performed poorly
Connotation
Often serious or chronic
Generally temporary or less severe
Compare with Definitions
Ill
Suffering from disease or sickness.
She was ill for three weeks.
Poorly
In poor health; unwell.
He has been feeling poorly lately.
Ill
Resulting badly; unfortunate.
It was an ill-timed joke.
Poorly
Not up to a reasonable standard.
The project was poorly managed.
Ill
Poorly suited or unfavorable.
His skills are ill-matched for this job.
Poorly
In an inadequate or unsatisfactory manner.
The team played poorly.
Ill
Causing adverse effects; harmful.
The ill advice cost him dearly.
Poorly
Describing minimal or insufficient execution.
The law was poorly implemented.
Ill
In a state of disrepair.
The mechanism is ill and needs fixing.
Poorly
With a lack of skill or efficiency.
She writes poorly.
Ill
Suffering from an illness or disease or feeling unwell
He was taken ill with food poisoning
Even the seriously ill cannot get tests done immediately
A terminally ill patient
Poorly
In a poor manner. See Usage Note at poor.
Ill
Poor in quality
Ill judgement dogs the unsuccessful
Poorly
In poor health; ill
Feeling poorly. See Usage Note at bad1.
Ill
Badly, wrongly, or imperfectly
The street is dominated by ill-lit shops
It ill becomes one so beautiful to be gloomy
Poorly
In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
To live poorly
Ill
Only with difficulty; hardly
She could ill afford the cost of new curtains
Poorly
With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
To do poorly in business
Ill
A problem or misfortune
A lengthy work on the ills of society
Poorly
Meanly; without spirit.
Ill
Not healthy; sick
I began to feel ill last week.
Poorly
Without skill or merit.
He plays tennis poorly.
Ill
Not normal; unsound
An ill condition of body and mind.
Poorly
In a negative manner; with disapproval.
I think poorly of them.
She looked poorly on that suggestion.
Ill
Resulting in suffering; harmful or distressing
The ill effects of a misconceived policy.
Poorly
(UK) ill, unwell, sick
To report one's child poorly
Ill
Resulting from or suggestive of evil intentions
Ill deeds committed out of spite.
Poorly
In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort; as, to live poorly.
Ill
Ascribing an objectionable quality
Holds an ill view of that political group.
Poorly
With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage; as, to do poorly in business.
Ill
Hostile or unfriendly
Ill feeling between rivals.
Poorly
Meanly; without spirit.
Nor is their courage or their wealth so low,That from his wars they poorly would retire.
Ill
Harmful; pernicious
The ill effects of a misconceived policy.
Poorly
Without skill or merit; as, he performs poorly.
Ill
Not favorable; unpropitious
Ill predictions.
Poorly
Somewhat ill; indisposed; not in health.
Ill
Not measuring up to recognized standards of excellence, as of behavior or conduct
Ill manners.
Poorly
Somewhat ill or prone to illness;
My poor ailing grandmother
Feeling a bit indisposed today
You look a little peaked
Feeling poorly
A sickly child
Is unwell and can't come to work
Ill
(Slang) Excellent; outstanding
Your new car is really ill!.
Poorly
(`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well;
He was ill prepared
It ill befits a man to betray old friends
The car runs badly
He performed badly on the exam
The team played poorly
Ill-fitting clothes
An ill-conceived plan
Ill
In a bad, inadequate, or improper way. Often used in combination
My words were ill-chosen.
Ill
In an unfavorable way; unpropitiously
A statistic that bodes ill for job growth.
Ill
Scarcely or with difficulty
We can ill afford another mistake.
Ill
Evil, wrongdoing, or harm
The ill that befell the townspeople.
Ill
Something that causes suffering; trouble
The social ills of urban life.
Ill
Something that reflects in an unfavorable way on one
Please don't speak ill of me when I'm gone.
Ill
(used with a pl. verb) Sick people considered as a group. Often used with the.
Ill
(obsolete) Evil; wicked (of people).
Ill
(archaic) Morally reprehensible (of behaviour etc.); blameworthy.
Ill
Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel.
He suffered from ill treatment.
Ill
Unpropitious, unkind, faulty, not up to reasonable standard.
Ill manners; ill will
Ill
Unwell in terms of health or physical condition; sick.
Mentally ill people.
I've been ill with the flu for the past few days.
Ill
Having an urge to vomit.
Seeing those pictures made me ill.
Ill
(hip-hop slang) Sublime, with the connotation of being so in a singularly creative way.
Ill
(slang) Extremely bad (bad enough to make one ill). Generally used indirectly with to be.
That band was ill.
Ill
(dated) Unwise; not a good idea.
Ill
Not well; imperfectly, badly
Ill
(often pluralized) Trouble; distress; misfortune; adversity.
Music won't solve all the world's ills, but it can make them easier to bear.
Ill
Harm or injury.
I wouldn't want you to do me ill.
Ill
Evil; moral wrongfulness.
Ill
A physical ailment; an illness.
I am incapacitated by rheumatism and other ills.
Ill
PCP, phencyclidine.
Ill
To behave aggressively.
Ill
Contrary to good, in a physical sense; contrary or opposed to advantage, happiness, etc.; bad; evil; unfortunate; disagreeable; unfavorable.
Neither is it ill air only that maketh an ill seat, but ill ways, ill markets, and ill neighbors.
There 's some ill planet reigns.
Ill
Contrary to good, in a moral sense; evil; wicked; wrong; iniquitious; naughtly; bad; improper.
Of his own body he was ill, and gaveThe clergy ill example.
Ill
Sick; indisposed; unwell; diseased; disordered; as, ill of a fever.
I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill.
Ill
Not according with rule, fitness, or propriety; incorrect; rude; unpolished; inelegant.
That 's an ill phrase.
Ill
Whatever annoys or impairs happiness, or prevents success; evil of any kind; misfortune; calamity; disease; pain; as, the ills of humanity.
Who can all sense of others' ills escapeIs but a brute at best in human shape.
That makes us rather bear those ills we haveThan fly to others that we know not of.
Ill
Whatever is contrary to good, in a moral sense; wickedness; depravity; iniquity; wrong; evil.
Strong virtue, like strong nature, struggles still,Exerts itself, and then throws off the ill.
Ill
In a ill manner; badly; weakly.
How ill this taper burns!
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
Ill
An often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
Ill
Not in good physical or mental health;
Ill from the monotony of his suffering
Ill
Resulting in suffering or adversity;
Ill effects
It's an ill wind that blows no good
Ill
Distressing;
Ill manners
Of ill repute
Ill
Indicating hostility or enmity;
You certainly did me an ill turn
Ill feelings
Ill will
Ill
Presaging ill-fortune;
Ill omens
Ill predictions
My words with inauspicious thunderings shook heaven
A dead and ominous silence prevailed
A by-election at a time highly unpropitious for the Government
Ill
(`ill' is often used as a combining form) in a poor or improper or unsatisfactory manner; not well;
He was ill prepared
It ill befits a man to betray old friends
The car runs badly
He performed badly on the exam
The team played poorly
Ill-fitting clothes
An ill-conceived plan
Ill
Unfavorably or with disapproval;
Tried not to speak ill of the dead
Thought badly of him for his lack of concern
Ill
With difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely or hardly;
We can ill afford to buy a new car just now
Common Curiosities
How is "poorly" most commonly used?
"Poorly" is most commonly used as an adverb to describe substandard performance or condition.
Can "ill" be used in non-health contexts?
Yes, "ill" can be used in broader contexts to describe negative effects, such as "ill fortune."
What makes "ill" different from "poorly" in terms of severity?
"Ill" is often associated with more serious or chronic conditions, whereas "poorly" suggests temporary or less severe ailments.
What is an example of "ill" affecting something non-human?
An example would be "ill effects" on the environment.
What is a common scenario for using "poorly"?
Describing someone's performance, such as "He performed poorly on the test."
What does "ill" typically describe?
"Ill" typically describes a state of sickness or disease.
How does "ill" enhance the meaning of nouns it modifies?
It directly associates them with sickness or negative outcomes.
Which term is suitable for temporary health complaints?
"Poorly" is more suitable for temporary or minor health complaints.
Is "poorly" used to describe serious health conditions?
No, "poorly" usually indicates less severe health issues or a temporary state of feeling unwell.
Can "poorly" modify nouns like "ill"?
Rarely, as "poorly" is predominantly an adverb; it typically modifies verbs or adjectives.
Can "poorly" describe the quality of something non-health related?
Yes, such as in "poorly constructed argument" or "poorly written essay."
Is "ill" interchangeable with "poorly" in medical contexts?
Not exactly, as "ill" suggests a recognized medical state, while "poorly" often refers to feelings of malaise.
Which term would you use to describe a badly managed project?
"Poorly," as in "The project was poorly managed."
How can "ill" imply a broader negative impact?
It can be used in phrases like "ill effects," impacting various aspects beyond health.
What distinguishes "ill" from "poorly" in terms of linguistic role?
"Ill" is an adjective affecting nouns directly, whereas "poorly" mainly serves as an adverb affecting how actions or states are described.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
