malaise

noun

mal·​aise mə-ˈlāz How to pronounce malaise (audio)
ma-,
-ˈlez How to pronounce malaise (audio)
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 despairMalcolm Boyd

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A recipe: combine a handful of the blahs, a pinch of the blues, and maybe a soupçon of ennui, season generously with “under the weather,” and voila, you’ve got yourself the stew of sinking sensations known as malaise. Malaise, whose Old French ancestor was formed from the combination of mal (“bad”) and aise (“comfort”), has been a part of English since the mid-18th century. It originally referred to a vague feeling of weakness or discomfort accompanying the onset of an illness—a meaning still in use today when a virus or other malady starts producing symptoms—but has since broadened to cover a general, ominous sense of mental or moral ill-being.

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 on the Web But the series also acts as a symbol of a broader creative malaise within the Murphy-verse — a strange moment in the super-producer’s storied career that pairs unprecedented quantity with diminished quality. Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 The end of summer, marked by shortening days often has the American workforce suffering a bit of malaise. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 The man visited a hospital in the town of Móstoles on July 19, reporting a fever and a general malaise after being bitten by a tick in Buenasbodas, in the Toledo province of central Spain, several days earlier. Jack Guy, CNN, 30 July 2024 Zoom out: Even outside the perimeter, the city seems eerily quiet, with an unexpected drizzle adding to the malaise. Ina Fried, Axios, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for malaise 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'malaise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French malaise, from Old French, from mal- + aise comfort — more at ease

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of malaise was in 1768

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Dictionary Entries Near malaise

Cite this Entry

“Malaise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malaise. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

malaise

noun
mal·​aise mə-ˈlāz How to pronounce malaise (audio) ma- How to pronounce malaise (audio)
-ˈlez
: a hazy feeling of not being well

Medical Definition

malaise

noun
mal·​aise mə-ˈlāz How to pronounce malaise (audio) ma- How to pronounce malaise (audio)
-ˈlez
: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness
fever, malaise, and other flu-like symptomsLarry Thompson
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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