unwell

adjective

un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
Synonyms of unwellnext
1
: being in poor health : ailing, sick
2
: undergoing menstruation

Synonyms

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Examples of unwell in a Sentence

Miss Bennett, are you unwell? I am sorry she is feeling unwell.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People surviving addiction to fentanyl and other toxic street drugs are often still profoundly unwell. — Brian Mann, NPR, 10 Mar. 2025 Everything in Constantine is washed with green, as though the whole world were unwell and not just the film’s terminally ill hero. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025 Posey’s character is Victoria Ratliff, a Southern financier’s wife who is, in a word, unwell. — Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025 Feeling seriously unwell could point you in the direction of the flu, COVID-19, or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). — Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwell

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwell was in the 15th century

Rhymes for unwell

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Browse Nearby Words

unwelded
unwell
unwellness
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Cite this Entry

“Unwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwell. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well ˌən-ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
ˈən-
: being in poor health : ailing, sick

Medical Definition

unwell

adjective
un·​well -ˈwel How to pronounce unwell (audio)
: being in poor health : sick

More from Merriam-Webster on unwell

Nglish: Translation of unwell for Spanish Speakers

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