unwell

adjective

un·​well ˌən-ˈwel 

1

: being in poor health : ailing, sick

2

euphemistic + somewhat old-fashioned : undergoing menstruation

Synonyms of unwell

• sick
• poorly
• ill
• bad

Examples of unwell in a Sentence

Miss Bennett, are you unwell?

I am sorry she is feeling unwell.

Recent Examples on the Web

Behind the polished facades, roughly nine out of ten were privately exhausted, unwell, or both, and had normalized that reality as an occupational hazard. — Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Five-year-old Tokyo became unwell and even lost consciousness several hours into a hike up Scotland’s Ben Nevis last Sunday, according to her owner Christina Bluhme. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 13 July 2026

Just hours before his death, Graham complained of feeling unwell but delayed seeking medical attention, according to a new Axios report. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

At this point in the episode, we’ve been treated to another major revelation that Juliette Lewis’s wild card of a character is his mentally unwell sister, Crystal, and Cady is trying to track her down. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unwell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

unwell

adjective

un·​well ˌən-ˈwel 

ˈən-

: being in poor health : ailing, sick

Medical Definition

unwell

adjective

un·​well -ˈwel 

: being in poor health : sick