ILL-BEING Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

ill-being

noun

Definition of ill-being

as in unhappiness

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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.

Recent Examples of ill-being Their findings, some previously covered in Fortune, draw on a deep dataset spanning dozens of countries to confirm that ill-being is no longer hump-shaped in age — the young are now the most miserable cohort globally. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Based on a dataset covering 34 countries from 2020 to 2023 from Sapien Labs’ Global Mind Project, the authors showed that ill-being is currently at higher levels at younger ages—and the trend is not a hump shape—across these countries. — Deena Mousa, Scientific American, 12 July 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill-being

Noun

The more pragmatic camp argues that maintaining unity during the war requires addressing the public's unhappiness over the economy as well as political and social repression.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
There is more potential this month for unhappiness to reach you in this way.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026

Definition of unhappiness

Noun

Her sadness and traumatic experiences, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller in 2018, have become intertwined with her career.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026
Compared to individual contributors, leaders were substantially more likely–by seven percentage points–to report experiencing a lot of stress, anger (+12 points), sadness (+11 points) and loneliness (+10 points) the previous day.

— Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

The player whose arrival in 2022 signaled the end of a five-year run of misery.

— Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
For so long, many have believed that God is Spirit, yet, somehow, expelled us out of His presence into the vulnerability and misery of matter.

— Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026

Definition of misery

Noun

Yoon drew extensively on these themes in his earlier works—most recently in the novel Run Me to Earth and the Story Prize–winning collection The Hive and the Honey—and his oeuvre depicts war’s psychological and material calamities.

— Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
But his avuncular encouragement of Tony in what could be absolute folly brings real heart to this section — until calamity intrudes.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026

Definition of calamity

Noun

As our cantankerous lead, Molina harumphs lovably from scene to scene, conveying both his character’s indomitable will and the wretchedness of his grief.

— Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
Director Penny Lane interviews jazz critics who howl at his wretchedness, then balances it with fans who simply don’t care.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026

Definition of wretchedness

Noun

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.

— Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
President and prime minister offer condolences Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Browse Nearby Words

illaudable

ill-being

ill-beings

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Style

“Ill-being.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill-being. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ill-being

noun

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