malaise
noun
mal·aise mə-ˈlāz 
ma-,
-ˈlez 1
: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness
An infected person will feel a general malaise.
2
: a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being
a malaise of cynicism and despair
Malcolm Boyd
Malcolm Boyd
Did you know?
Malaise, which ultimately traces back to Old French, has been part of English since the 18th century. One of its most notable uses, however, came in 1979—well, sort of. U.S. President Jimmy Carter never actually used the word in his July 15 televised address, but it became known as the "malaise speech" all the same. In the speech, Carter described the U.S. as a nation facing a "crisis of confidence" and rife with "paralysis and stagnation and drift." He spoke of a "national malaise" a few days later, and it's not hard to see why the "malaise" name stuck. The speech was praised by some and criticized by others, but whatever your politics, it remains a vivid illustration of the meaning of malaise.
Example Sentences
The symptoms include headache, malaise, and fatigue. An infected person will feel a general malaise. The country's current economic problems are symptoms of a deeper malaise.
Recent Examples on the Web In a world of endlessly upticking financial graphs, job insecurity, and pandemic malaise, this recipe is a small miracle: bright and herby, deeply comforting, and only $2.41 per serving. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 6 Sep. 2022 Investors say the market’s malaise is in part due to worries that, rather than slowing down its pace of interest-rate increases at the first sign of slowing growth, the Fed will keep charging ahead to tamp down inflation. Akane Otani, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Theft, toadying, incompetence and malaise were everywhere. David E. Hoffman, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 For many, anxiety, depression and malaise were already bubbling perilously close to the surface before the dam, proverbially, broke. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Patients can experience high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 18 July 2022 Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Bymorgan Winsor, ABC News, 18 July 2022 Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, told Fortune in May that symptoms of the new subvariants are similar to typical Omicron symptoms, which include fever, loss of smell, and malaise. Erin Prater, Fortune, 11 July 2022 The symptoms of jet lag — insomnia, exhaustion and stomach problems, sluggishness and distractedness — are examples of the sort of overall malaise caused by circadian confusion. New York Times, 6 July 2022 See More
Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 6 Sep. 2022 Investors say the market’s malaise is in part due to worries that, rather than slowing down its pace of interest-rate increases at the first sign of slowing growth, the Fed will keep charging ahead to tamp down inflation. Akane Otani, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Theft, toadying, incompetence and malaise were everywhere. David E. Hoffman, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 For many, anxiety, depression and malaise were already bubbling perilously close to the surface before the dam, proverbially, broke. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2022 Patients can experience high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE.com, 18 July 2022 Illness begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and malaise. Bymorgan Winsor, ABC News, 18 July 2022 Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, told Fortune in May that symptoms of the new subvariants are similar to typical Omicron symptoms, which include fever, loss of smell, and malaise. Erin Prater, Fortune, 11 July 2022 The symptoms of jet lag — insomnia, exhaustion and stomach problems, sluggishness and distractedness — are examples of the sort of overall malaise caused by circadian confusion. New York Times, 6 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French malaise, from Old French, from mal- + aise comfort — more at ease
First Known Use
1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
malaise
noun
mal·aise mə-ˈlāz ma-
ma- -ˈlez
: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness
fever, malaise, and other flu-like symptoms Larry Thompson
Larry Thompsonmalaise
noun
1
as in illness
the condition of not being in good health Her symptoms included fatigue and general malaise. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- illness
- disease
- sickness
- disorder
- ailment
- fever
- ill
- dysfunction
- malady
- weakness
- trouble
- distemper
- upset
- infirmity
- disfunction
- condition
- complication
- ail
- lethargy
- complaint
- unhealthiness
- indisposition
- distemperature
- bug
- unsoundness
- affliction
- sickliness
- affection
- lameness
- debility
- feebleness
- invalidism
- stupor
- decrepitude
- pip
- debilitation
- listlessness
- lassitude
- languor
- torpor
- matter
- hypochondria
- invalidity
- frailty
- frailness
- attack
- sickishness
- weakliness
- hebetude
- fit
- bout
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- health
- wellness
- healthiness
- vitality
- soundness
- vigor
- strength
- wholesomeness
- fitness
- wholeness
- shape
- lustiness
- toughness
- hardiness
- stamina
- welfare
- ruggedness
- robustness
- heartiness
- recovery
- weal
- convalescence
- fettle
- rehabilitation
- vigorousness
- recuperation
- healing
- bloom
- flush
- flushness
- rehab
- mending
- comeback
- rally
- well-being
- snapback
2
as in anxiety
a general feeling that things are bad or wrong They blame our modern malaise on overuse of technology. Synonyms & Similar Words
- anxiety
- fear
- concern
- fearfulness
- worry
- desperation
- unease
- depression
- angst
- concernment
- oppression
- desperateness
- stress
- uncertainty
- uneasiness
- agitation
- disquiet
- panic
- disquietude
- distress
- nervousness
- tension
- gloom
- agita
- discomfort
- perturbation
- anxiousness
- anguish
- apprehensiveness
- unhappiness
- apprehension
- vexation
- melancholy
- glumness
- joylessness
- nervosity
- sadness
- gloominess
- solicitude
- miserableness
- torment
- upset
- heartsickness
- doldrums
- dreariness
- dismay
- jitters
- strain
- blues
- care
- tremor
- sweat
- despondency
- mournfulness
- discomposure
- disturbance
- despondence
- consternation
- jumpiness
- sorrowfulness
- hand-wringing
- forlornness
- distraction
- edginess
- franticness
- alarm
- desolation
- downheartedness
- incertitude
- suspense
- doubt
- blue devils
- despond
- foreboding
- dread
- mopes
- dispiritedness
- misgiving
- dumps
- compunction
- disconsolateness
- alarum
- dolefulness
- qualm
- presentiment
- cold feet
- scruple
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unconcern
- contentment
- satisfaction
- relief
- tranquility
- ease
- quietude
- contentedness
- peace
- calmness
- placidity
- content
- serenity
- tranquillity
- peacefulness
- optimism
- consolation
- solace
- calm
- comfort
- easiness
- quiet
- glee
- mirth
- gayety
- placidness
- humor
- joviality
- lightheartedness
- gaiety
- jollity
- hopefulness
- sereneness
- cheerfulness
- merriment
- tranquilness
- cheeriness
- gayness
- sunniness
- gleefulness
- cheer
- mirthfulness