sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsi-kə-niŋ 

ˈsik-niŋ

: causing sickness or disgust

a sickening odor

a sickening display

sickeningly

ˈsi-kə-niŋ-lē 

ˈsik-niŋ-

adverb

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• abominable
• appalling
• awful
• disgusting
• distasteful
• dreadful
• evil
• foul
• fulsome
• gross
• hideous
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrid
• loathsome
• nasty
• nauseating
• nauseous
• noisome
• noxious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• odious
• offensive
• rancid
• repellent
• repellant
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• scandalous
• shocking
• ugly

Examples of sickening in a Sentence

a sickening display of selfishness

We heard the squeal of brakes and a sickening thud.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cambodia reported two infections in February 2023, including an 11-year-old girl who developed pneumonia and died, but testing found that the virus was different from the version sickening birds in the U.S. Why are experts so worried? —Sam Ogozalek, Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2024

This entire sickening process just shows how far the once-great franchise has fallen. —Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2024

Combs has denied all of the allegations, calling them sickening. —Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 16 June 2024

Along with chucking in a bit of aid on the side, this sickening duplicity, hypocrisy and deliberate moral fraudulence surely makes America, at the very least, the world’s number one Jekyll and Hyde nation, with Britain, as usual, bringing up the rear. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sickening

• be sickening for

Kids Definition

sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing

ˈsik-(ə-)niŋ

: causing sickness or disgust

a sickening sight

sickeningly adverb

Medical Definition

sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsik-(ə-)niŋ 

: causing sickness or nausea