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unwell

unwell

18 1.0
Feeling slightly sick or uncomfortable
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈwɛl/
translation icon : enfermo
  • She told her friend that she was feeling unwell and needed to rest.
  • feeling unwell
  • acutely unwell
  • unwell patient

But another huge part is they think they're unwell, but they're not unwell.

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Examples

  • Mrs. X's daughter reports that her mother is too unwell to attend the practice and requests a house call.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But some people really are very unwell and now they're not being seen and not being heard.

  • "I am sorry to see that you are unwell," he said.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • So if you feel unwell, just stay at home for a few days until it passes.

  • I feel a bit unwell.

  • Are you feeling unwell, Lloyd?

  • People went from being apparently well to severely unwell and dying within hours.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Her husband, John, also felt unwell, so they blamed the meal.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The patient complained of feeling generally unwell, and he had noticed a significant weight loss over the preceding weeks.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Determining who to treat depends partly on how unwell they are and partly on the causative organism.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

sick
vsunwell
1.0

Not well because of illness

refers mainly to mild discomfort or slight illness
nauseous
vsunwell
66 4.4

Feeling like you will be sick

is the broader word for slight illness, not this specific feeling
under the weather
vsunwell
  • Informal
21 5.3

Feeling slightly ill and not your usual self

is the general term for slight illness without idiom
feverish
vsunwell
12 3.5

Having a higher than normal body temperature and feeling weak

refers to mild illness broadly rather than fever specifically
nauseated
vsunwell
10 4.5

Feeling sick and likely to vomit

is a general term for slight illness without this symptom
not quite myself
vsunwell
3 6.5

Feeling a little unwell and not your usual self

focuses on general slight illness rather than specific symptoms
ailing
vsunwell
3 5.6

Having poor health and often getting sick

describes a short, slight illness rather than chronic poor health
cruddy
vsunwell
  • Informal
1 8.2

Feeling slightly sick or not well

is the neutral term without informal rough tone
sickish
vsunwell
1 6.7

Slightly ill in the stomach and likely to throw up

is broader, covering general slight illness not just nausea
poorly
vsunwell
2.8

Feeling ill or not well

is the standard neutral word for slight illness
indisposed
vsunwell
6.9

Feeling slightly ill or unwell

describes minor illness without implying unwillingness

Antonyms

695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

142 1.0

In good health after being ill or hurt

How Well

healthy
695 1.0
well
142 1.0
okay
1 1.0
unwell
18 1.0
ill
632 1.0

Surface Forms

unwell positive
unweller comparative
unwellest superlative

Morphology

unwell = well (transparent) = un + well

The adjective is formed by productive negation un- + well, yielding a direct opposite meaning that a B1 learner can deduce.

Etymology

The word unwell comes from the prefix un- meaning 'not' and the word well meaning 'in good health', like in wellness. So, unwell means 'not in good health' or 'feeling ill'.