If you’re looking for synonyms to saying “suffering from a fever,” you’ve come to the right place. This article will go over all of the best ones for both formal and informal situations. That way, you’ll be much better prepared should a fever ever strike you.

“Suffering from a fever” is wordy and unnecessary. There are plenty of alternatives out there, and this article will look at the following:

The preferred version in formal situations is “I have a fever.” It’s short and to the point, which is all you need to use when writing in formal matters. For informal situations, “I’m sick” is the best slang phrase to use.

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We’ll start with the most effective phrase to use, which is “I have a fever.”

We say, “I have a fever” when we have a temperature related to whatever illness we have. That way, whoever we’re speaking to knows that we’re not feeling well and that we most likely won’t be able to come in for work.

We always say “a fever” rather than just “fever.” Generally, if you leave “a” out of the phrase and say “I have fever,” people will assume the worst and think you have a deadly virus (like Yellow Fever).

Here are some examples of how to use the phrase in a professional setting:

“I am down with a fever” works in the same way. However, we include “down” to show that we’re completely put out by our fever and unable to operate at a normal capacity.

This is reasonably effective to say to an employer because it shows them that you can’t work since the “fever” has put you “down.” In a way, it’s like saying, “I would work if I could, but this fever is too much to bear.”

Here’s when we might say it:

“I’ve come down with a fever” is another way to say that a “fever” has put us out of action. We use it when we want to say that we’re not able to function properly because of the fever.

This is another formal option, and some of the instances where you might see it include:

“I’m feverish” is slightly less formal than some of the other options. It uses the adjective “feverish” to show that you’re running a fever and won’t be able to do much because of it.

This is a great option in informal situations because it gets to the point quickly. You don’t need any extra words, just a pronoun (I) and the adjective (“feverish”).

Here are some good examples of how to use it:

“I’m running a temperature” is good in informal situations (and some people use it successfully for formal situations too). It means you’ve got a high temperature, which is a common symptom of a fever.

Though we don’t expressly talk about the “fever” that we have, it’s assumed that the “temperature” means we’re overheating and thus finding it difficult to operate at a normal level.

Here are some places where you might see it:

“I’m sick” is a great colloquial phrase to use to talk about how you’re unwell. Though it doesn’t have to refer to a “fever” every time, it works well in this context to cover a whole host of illnesses and ailments.

We might say “I’m sick” to our friends or coworkers when the fever we’re running leads us to cancel plans. Usually, we’ll still apologize (even though it’s an informal situation), but we can’t make it to the event or meeting because of whatever the sickness is.

In this case, “sick” refers to a “sickness” that is related to the “fever” that we’re experiencing. Most native speakers understand what it means when you say “I’m sick,” which is why it’s such a good option for slang situations.

“I’m ill” is another great way to say you’re suffering from a fever in a slang way. “Ill” means “illness” in this regard, meaning that you’re suffering from an illness that is preventing you from feeling like yourself.

We might use “I’m ill” when talking to friends. It’s especially effective when we have to cancel plans.

Sometimes, it even works in more professional environments, though you have to make sure you’re familiar with your boss and the kind of vocabulary they use before trying it for yourself.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.