ill-being
/'il'bi:iɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
A person's ill-being can be seen in their tired expression and slumped posture.
Definition
Noun: A state of lacking prosperity, happiness, or health; a condition of being unwell, unhappy, or in a bad situation.
Usage
"Ill-being" is a formal or academic noun used to describe a general state of poor condition, encompassing physical, mental, or socioeconomic distress. It is often used in contrast to "well-being."
Examples
- The report focused on the ill-being caused by long-term unemployment in the community.
- Chronic stress is a significant contributor to both physical and psychological ill-being.
- The government's policies were criticized for increasing the economic ill-being of the poorest citizens.
Advanced Usage
- "Ill-being" is frequently used in sociological, economic, and health-related discussions to describe aggregate negative conditions within a population.
- It can be used in compound adjectives, though these are less common. For example: "ill-being indicators" (metrics that measure negative states).
Variants and Related Words
- Well-being (n): The direct antonym, meaning a state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
- Malaise (n): A general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify. (More specific to a feeling than the broad state described by "ill-being").
- Hardship (n): Severe suffering or privation. (More intense and often more specific than "ill-being").
Synonyms
- Distress
- Unhappiness
- Discontent
- Suffering
- Adversity
Antonyms
- Well-being
- Prosperity
- Happiness
- Health
- Welfare
A person's ill-being can be seen in their tired expression and slumped posture.
Noun
- lack of prosperity or happiness or health