unwell
Under the weather
Unwell means not in good health, though typically suggesting something mild or temporary rather than serious illness: I'm feeling a bit unwell today.
The word is slightly more formal or polite than sick, often used when being vague about symptoms.
It can also be a gentle euphemism for conditions people prefer not to name directly—pregnancy, menstruation, or mental health struggles: She's been unwell lately.
Unwell or impressively cool
- illIn poor health
- ailingIn poor health
- poorlyIn an inferior way
- under the weatherMildly sick or unwell
off-color · out of sorts · run-down · bedridden · convalescent · recuperating · infirm · debilitated
Mildly sick to stomach
- nauseousFeeling urge to vomit
- sick to one's stomachExperiencing strong nausea
- biliousIll-tempered or nauseated
- green around the gillsAppearing nauseated or unwell
woozy · seasick · carsick · motion sickness · retching · gagging · vomiting · upset stomach
Having elevated temperature
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- chillsShivering spells from illness
- shiversInvoluntary bodily trembling
- sweatsCasual athletic garments
flushed · burning up · febrile · hot · clammy · shivering · delirious · pyrexia
Lacking color intensity
- wanPale and unwell-looking
- pallidUnhealthily lacking color
- sallowUnhealthily yellowish complexion
- ashenPale, grayish-white
drawn · haggard · gaunt · pinched · washed-out · pasty · gray · ghastly
Lacking power or force
- feebleWeak and ineffective
- faintWeak and indistinct
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- unsteadyLacking balance or stability
wobbly · depleted · sapped · drained · enervated · tired · worn out · fragile
Lasting extended period
- ongoingIn progress now
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
- decliningDecreasing in strength
wasting · degenerative · terminal · invalid · homebound · hospice · palliative · failing
sick
Unwell or impressively cool
under the weather · off-color · out of sorts · run-down · bedridden · convalescent · recuperating · infirm · debilitated · weakened
queasy
Mildly sick to stomach
- nauseousFeeling urge to vomit
- sick to one's stomachExperiencing strong nausea
- biliousIll-tempered or nauseated
green around the gills · woozy · seasick · carsick · motion sickness · retching · gagging · vomiting · upset stomach · dizzy
feverish
Having elevated temperature
- temperatureMeasured heat intensity
- chillsShivering spells from illness
- shiversInvoluntary bodily trembling
sweats · flushed · burning up · febrile · hot · clammy · shivering · delirious · pyrexia · flu
pale
Lacking color intensity
ashen · drawn · haggard · gaunt · pinched · washed-out · pasty · gray · ghastly · cadaverous
weak
Lacking power or force
unsteady · wobbly · depleted · sapped · drained · enervated · tired · worn out · fragile · delicate
long-term
Lasting extended period
- ongoingIn progress now
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- deterioratingBecoming progressively worse
declining · wasting · degenerative · terminal · invalid · homebound · hospice · palliative · failing · lingering
- illnessdisease, sickness, illness, ailment, disorder
- Euphemismspass away, passed away, passed on, expecting, with child
- sicknesssick, ill, ailing, diseased, infected
- U-wordsugly, ultimate, ultra, umbrella, unable
- invalidsinvalid, invalids, infirm, bedridden, incapacitated
- mental statesknowledge, conscious, mood, anxious, memory