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Poorly vs Barely - What's the difference?

poorly | barely |

As adverbs the difference between poorly and barely

is that poorly is in a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort while barely is (degree) by a small margin.

As an adjective poorly

is ill, unwell, sick.

poorly

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • In a poor manner or condition; without plenty, or sufficiency, or suitable provision for comfort.
    • to live poorly
  • With little or no success; indifferently; with little profit or advantage.
    • to do poorly in business
  • Meanly; without spirit.
  • * Dryden
    • Nor is their courage or their wealth so low, / That from his wars they poorly would retire.
  • Without skill or merit.
    • He plays tennis poorly .

    Usage notes

    * Adjectives to which "poorly" is often applied: planned, conceived, executed, implemented, performing, managed, controlled, designed, represented, differentiated, suited, built, dressed, soluble, ventilated, known, paid, etc.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • ill, unwell, sick

    • Synonyms

    * See also

    barely

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (degree) By a small margin.
  • * 1748 , , Oxford University Press (1973), section 8:
    • It becomes, therefore, no inconsiderable part of science barely to know the different operations of mind,
  • * 1925 , Walter Anthony and Tom Reed (titles), Rupert Julian (director), The Phantom of the Opera , silent movie
    • ‘It is barely possible you may hear of a ghost, a Phantom of the Opera!’
  • (degree) Almost not at all.
    • The plane is so far away now I can barely see it.
    Yes, it is barely visible.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011
    • , date=October 23 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=In contrast to what was to come, City were barely allowed any time to settle on the ball in the opening exchanges, with Ashley Young prominent and drawing heavy fouls from Micah Richards and James Milner.}}
  • (archaic) merely.
  • * 1661 , , page 29,
    • Now that fire do's not alwayes barely separate the Elementary parts, but sometimes at least alter also the Ingredients of Bodies

    Usage notes

    It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. * Compare You can find barely ever used items on eBay.'' with ''You can almost never find used items on eBay.

    Synonyms

    * (degree) hardly, scarcely * hardly, just, only just, scarcely

    Anagrams

    * English degree adverbs