unwell

adjective

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

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.
To be a public figure is to be at risk, and both political leaders and entertainers have long been subjected to threats, stalking, and even assassinations by unwell people who have developed an obsession with them from afar. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025 Jović, 17, defeated an unwell Emiliana Arango to lift her first 500-level title in Guadalajara, while 19-year-old Rakotomanga Rajaonah, who was 5-0 down in the deciding set of her first-round match in Brazil, beat Janice Tjen to win the 250-level SP Open. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 He and his followers were locked in a battle with an enemy that was not just ideologically opposed but unwell, possibly evil. Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025 When a child is unwell, parents may have to miss work, and children can fall behind in school, adding stress for everyone in the family. Rhonda Conner-Warren, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Unwell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwell. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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