noun
malaise
muh-LAYZ/məˈleɪz/
An indistinct sense of being unwell.
The woman sits slumped on the sofa, feeling a vague malaise.
Etymology
Literally “ill-ease,” malaise names a disturbance of bodily comfort or peace of mind. The older senses included suffering and sickness; the selected meaning emphasizes an indefinite feeling rather than a clearly identified illness.
In context
intense anxiety and a general feeling of malaise can precede a heart attack
More examples
- A general malaise is sometimes the first sign of the flu.
- The fever is gone, but a lingering malaise keeps me home.
- She describes her malaise as feeling unwell without any specific pain.
Forms
malaise
Similar words
- discomfort
- Describes unpleasant physical sensations without necessarily suggesting general illness.
- indisposition
- Suggests mild illness, often enough to disrupt normal activities.