When people get indigestion, they are often affected by nausea, heartburn, and gas-things that can cause the world's greatest gastronome to curse the world's most delectable dishes. So, it is no wonder that dyspepsia, a word for indigestion, has also come to mean "ill humor" or "disgruntlement." The word itself is ultimately derived from the Greek prefix dys- ("faulty" or "impaired") and the verb pessein ("to cook" or "to digest"). To please the wordmonger's appetite, we would like to end with this tasty morsel: Dyspepsia has an opposite, eupepsia-a rarely used word meaning "good digestion."
Examples of dyspepsia in a Sentence
He is suffering from dyspepsia.
Recent Examples on the WebIn a study of 51 patients with functional dyspepsia, participants who took two daily 540-milligram (mg) ginger supplements (one before lunch and one before dinner) for four weeks had significantly improved symptoms such as fullness after eating, abdominal pain and burning, and heartburn.—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 16 Sep. 2024 These effects can help relieve symptoms such as distention, bloating, pain, and nausea, which are often associated with slow gastric emptying and a condition known as functional dyspepsia (chronic indigestion).—Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 16 Sep. 2024 One study found that ginger supplements can improve symptoms of functional dyspepsia, a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic indigestion.6
Relieves Nausea
Ginger may help relieve nausea.—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 6 Sep. 2024 Gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia are both under the umbrella term of motility disorders, and bloating may occur in these disorders.6
Functional dyspepsia may be diagnosed when symptoms affect the upper digestive system, but no obvious cause is found.—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 13 Aug. 2024 The result is a condition like irritable bowel syndrome or functional dyspepsia (a.k.a. indigestion), both of which can involve unpredictable spasms of your intestines, generating gas, bloating, and yes, airier poops, Dr. Schnoll-Sussbaum says.—Erica Sloan, SELF, 29 July 2024 Risks Adverse effects may include heartburn, dyspepsia (indigestion), abdominal pain, belching, and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).—Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 5 July 2024 Can Support Digestion Research has shown that seltzer water might treat constipation and dyspepsia (indigestion).—Alison Mango, Health, 1 June 2024 According to Matt Tompson, MD, a gastroenterologist with Houston Methodist, these are better for people with chronic acid reflux or chronic dyspepsia.—Sarah Bradley, Verywell Health, 28 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dyspepsia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek dyspepsía, from dys-dys- + pépsis "cooking, ripening, digestion" (from pep-, base of péttein, péssein, péptein "to cook, ripen, digest" + -sis-sis) + -ia-ia entry 1 — more at cook entry 1
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