Definition of malaise
1 : an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness An infected person will feel a general malaise.
2 : a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being a malaise of cynicism and despair — Malcolm Boyd
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
malaise was our Word of the Day on 06/03/2008. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of malaise in a Sentence
The symptoms include headache, malaise, and fatigue.
An infected person will feel a general malaise.
The country's current economic problems are symptoms of a deeper malaise.
Recent Examples of malaise from the Web
-
Industry executives are trying to use Nigeria’s economic malaise as a rallying cry, arguing that legitimate sales not only benefit musicians, but could also help an economy that has plunged into recession amid low oil prices.
-
And despite being 11 games behind their 2016 pace after 51 games, Rizzo remains optimistic that their fortunes will change despite their two-month malaise.
-
The front office and coaches worried the malaise would carry over into playoffs.
-
His return to glory last month by taking Jesus Cuellar’s secondary WBA featherweight belt ended a three-year period of malaise and was a credit to both his commitment and the work of new cornerman Robert Garcia, Mikey’s brother.
-
Symptoms include fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and runny nose.
-
Notable votes are due in France, Germany and the Netherlands, and in all three there are populist politicians looking to gain an advantage from the economic malaise that has gripped the eurozone for nearly a decade.
-
The punishment did not help, but neither did a general feeling of malaise and inconsistency — in short, the effects of suboptimal coaching.
-
The studies were conducted in seven countries between 1962 and 2009 and used various definitions of tiredness, including unbearable fatigue, weariness, lethargy, malaise and feeling knackered, run down and in need of a tonic.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malaise'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Malaise, which ultimately traces back to Old French, has been part of English since the mid-18th century. One of its most notable uses, however, came in 1979 - well, sort of. President Jimmy Carter never actually used the word in his July 15 televised address, but it became known as the malaise speech all the same. In the speech, Carter described the U.S. as a nation facing a crisis of confidence and rife with paralysis and stagnation and drift. He spoke of a national malaise a few days later, and it's not hard to see why the malaise name stuck. The speech was praised by some and criticized by many others, but whatever your politics, it remains a vivid illustration of the meaning of malaise.
Origin and Etymology of malaise
French malaise, from Old French, from mal- + aise comfort — more at ease
First Known Use: 1768
Other Psychology Terms
MALAISE Defined for English Language Learners
malaise
playDefinition of malaise for English Language Learners
-
medical : a slight or general feeling of not being healthy or happy
-
: a problem or condition that harms or weakens a group, society, etc.
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about malaise
-
See words that rhyme with malaise Spanish Central: Translation of malaise Nglish: Translation of malaise for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of malaise for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up malaise? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!