WordGarden.iosicken
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɪkən/
US
- /ˈsɪkən/
Meanings
Verb
to become ill or make someone ill
to disgust or appall deeply
Beyond the definition
To sicken someone is not always about physical illness. It can mean to make a person physically unwell, much like a spoiled meal might do. But it can also mean to deeply disturb or repel them. A gruesome story might sicken a sensitive person, and seeing injustice can leave someone feeling sick at heart. Think of it as something that makes a person feel bad in body or in spirit.
The word carries more weight than simply feeling unwell. It is often used for things that seem morally wrong or deeply upsetting. A politician's lies might sicken the public, and a betrayal by a friend can sicken someone to the core.
The word "sicken" has two main sides in English. In its most literal sense, it can mean to make someone ill, as in "The contaminated water sickened many villagers." It can also describe a person becoming ill, especially in more formal or literary writing, as when someone "sickens and dies" from a fever.
Beyond the physical, sicken also means to disgust, repel, or deeply disturb someone emotionally or morally. "The sight of so much suffering sickened her" suggests that she felt both distressed and repulsed by what she saw. This sense often appears when people talk about cruelty, injustice, corruption, or betrayal. A corrupt system might sicken a nation, and a cruel act might sicken everyone who hears about it. It is stronger than simple dislike. It suggests a deep reaction, as if something feels wrong enough to turn the stomach or trouble the heart.
In literature and careful prose, the past tense "sickened" often highlights the force of an emotional reaction. A character may be described as having "sickened at the thought" of something shameful, cruel, or unbearable. Whether it refers to disease or to disgust, the word points to a strong negative effect that reaches beyond ordinary discomfort. It describes something that makes a person feel ill, or something so upsetting that it feels almost like illness.
Examples
- 1
Sensory reaction
The smell of rotten milk sickened him.
- 2
Travel illness
Several passengers began to sicken during the rough crossing.
- 3
Environmental harm
She was sickened by the amount of waste the factory dumped into the river.
- 4
Upsetting thought
I was sickened at the thought of children going hungry.
- Patternsickened at the thought of + situation
felt deeply upset or disgusted when thinking about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Political scandal
The corruption scandal has sickened many voters.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sickenverb
Forms
- sickening-ing formverb
- sickenedpast tenseverb
- sickensverb