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

Alex Karalius, who lives in Salford near Manchester, was taking his two dachshunds for a walk on June 23, 2026, when he was suddenly fell unwell. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 13 Oct. 2026

Get Ready with Me Colorado Vicky, the deeply mentally unwell and obscure influencer who somehow made her way onto the algorithm of a middle school girl, is another classic role in Johnson’s wheelhouse. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2026

The actors wore makeup to look unwell, used eye drops and petroleum jelly to mimic having conjunctivitis (aka pink eye), and had a fake cough. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026

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

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