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

As the mid-eighties set in and Stevie readied her next solo album, Rock a Little, the singer was visibly unwell. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

Caring for a baby who had been very unwell and dealing with the exhaustion of new motherhood left her sleep-deprived, but the experience still gave her a new perspective on how much care her mom had poured into her own childhood. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, Tifa and an unwell Cloud remain separated from the group, leaving the rest of the party to chart their own course through a world that has grown considerably since Rebirth. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

Troubleshooting Tips If your Venus flytrap looks unwell, but is otherwise well watered, here’s what may be troubling your plant. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 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