malaise
/mæˈleɪz/noun
A general feeling that things are not going well, with low energy and little hope, often shared by a whole group, economy or society.
Example sentences
- “The town fell into a deep malaise after the factory closed.”
- “Rising prices have only added to the economic malaise.”
- “A sense of malaise spread through the office as the layoffs continued.”
Often paired with 'economic', 'political' or 'general', and with verbs like 'fall into' or 'shake off'. It is a formal word, more common in news than in conversation; it can also mean a vague feeling of being physically unwell.