1
medical
: a slight or general feeling of not being healthy or happy
The symptoms include headache, malaise, and fatigue.
An infected person will feel a general malaise.
a spiritual malaise
2
: a problem or condition that harms or weakens a group, society, etc.
postwar malaise
The country's current economic problems are symptoms of a deeper malaise.
Cite this Entry
“Malaise.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/malaise. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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