WordGarden.ionauseate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɔːsɪˌeɪt/
US
- /ˈnɔziˌeɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to make someone feel sick or queasy
to disgust or revolt strongly
Beyond the definition
If the smell of old gym socks makes your stomach turn, those socks nauseate you, meaning they make you feel like you might throw up. It is a strong word for causing sickness or deep disgust. You can be nauseated by motion, like on a boat, by bad smells, by ugly sights, or even by certain thoughts. It does not always lead to vomiting, but it brings on that awful feeling that it might. Think of spoiled milk or a very disturbing movie scene, and you will understand what it means to nauseate someone.
To nauseate someone is to cause them to feel sick to their stomach, often resulting in nausea—that queasy feeling that precedes vomiting. It's more than just mild discomfort; it suggests a strong physical reaction of disgust or revulsion. For example: "The rocking of the ship began to nauseate the passengers," or "The graphic details of the crime scene nauseated her."
Nauseate isn't limited to physical sensations, though. It can also describe something that intensely disgusts you on a moral or emotional level. You might say, "His callous disregard for human life nauseates me." In this case, it's not about your stomach turning, but about feeling deeply repulsed by someone's actions.
The word comes from the Latin nausea, meaning seasickness—hinting at its original connection to motion and physical illness. However, over time, its usage has broadened to encompass any experience that evokes a strong sense of disgust or impending sickness.
It's important to note that while being nauseated often leads to vomiting, it doesn't always have to. You can feel intensely nauseous without actually throwing up. So, whether it's a bumpy ride, a foul odor, or a disturbing sight, if something makes you feel sick at your core, it likely nauseates you.
Examples
- 1
Bad smell
The smell of the spoiled milk nauseated me.
- 2
Motion sickness
Reading in the back seat can nauseate some people.
- 3
Boat motion
She felt nauseated by the motion of the boat.
- 4
Moral reaction
His casual cruelty nauseated everyone in the room.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Injustice
It nauseates me to see people treated that way.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- nauseateverb
Forms
- nauseating-ing formverb
- nauseatedpast tenseverb
- nauseatesverb