Sickening — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈsi-kə-niŋ/ sick·en·ing

Meaning & Definition of Sickening

Sickening (adjective)

  1. causing sickness or disgust

Sickening (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment

    "a sickening display of emotion"

    similar: 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, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, ugly
    related: exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish, sick, sickish, sickly, terrible, unspeakable, vile, off-putting, undesirable, unwanted, unwelcome, barbarous, unchristian, uncivilized, ungodly, unholy, distressing, disturbing, upsetting
    opposite: innocuous, inoffensive
    near: acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet, welcome, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, healthful, healthy, restorative, salubrious, salutary, wholesome

Sickening (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to feel disgust

    "sickened by the awful sight of the polluted river"

    similar: disgusting, grossing out, nauseating, putting off, repelling, repulsing, revolting, turning off, turning one's stomach
    related: displeasing, distressing, appalling, disquieting, horrifying, affronting, insulting, offending, outraging, shocking
    near: alluring, attracting, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charming, disarming, drawing, enchanting, enticing, fascinating, luring, pulling, seducing, tempting, delighting, gratifying, pleasing, rejoicing, tickling, enrapturing, enthralling, entrancing, appealing (to), interesting, intriguing

Related Entry: Sicken (verb)

Sicken is a different word from Sickening. The synonyms below are for sicken, not for sickening.

  1. to cause to feel disgust

    "sickened by the awful sight of the polluted river"

    similar: disgust, gross out, nauseate, put off, repel, repulse, revolt, turn off, turn one's stomach
    related: displease, distress, appall, disquiet, horrify, affront, insult, offend, outrage, shock
    near: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, disarm, draw, enchant, entice, fascinate, lure, pull, seduce, tempt, delight, gratify, please, rejoice, tickle, enrapture, enthrall, entrance, appeal (to), interest, intrigue

Related Entry: Sicken (with) (verb)

Sicken (with) is a different word from Sickening. The synonyms below are for sicken (with), not for sickening.

  1. to become affected with (a disease or disorder)

    "a number of the passengers on the cruise ship had sickened with food poisoning"

    similar: catch, come down (with), contract, get, go down (with) (chiefly British), take
    related: break out (with), die (from), succumb (to), fail, languish, sink, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither, worsen
    near: come back, gain, heal, mend, recoup, recover, recuperate, snap back, rally, rebound, recover (from), shake (off)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sickening

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sickening:

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, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, ugly, grossing out, putting off, repelling, repulsing, turning off, turning one's stomach

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sickening

Words with the opposite meaning of Sickening:

innocuous, inoffensive

Related Words for Sickening

exceptionable, objectionable, brackish, disagreeable, dislikable, unpleasant, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hard, hateful, unhealthy, unsavory, unwholesome, execrable, lousy, miserable, atrocious, frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, gruesome, heinous, horrific, horrifying, lurid, macabre, monstrous, nightmarish

Near Antonyms of Sickening

acceptable, agreeable, alluring, appealing, attractive, blessed, congenial, darling, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, desirable, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, gratifying, heavenly, inviting, likable, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, savory, sweet

Word Forms of Sickening

Derived words: sickeningly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Sickening

First known use: 1789

Words & Phrases Containing Sickening

be sickening for

Frequently Asked Questions about Sickening

What does "Sickening" mean?

"Sickening" means causing sickness or disgust. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: causing sickness or disgust. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sickening"?

Other words for "Sickening" include abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful and evil. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sickening" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sickening"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sickening". Common alternatives include abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, disgusting, distasteful, dreadful, evil, foul and fulsome.

What is the opposite of "Sickening"?

Antonyms of "Sickening" include innocuous and inoffensive. Near antonyms include acceptable, agreeable, alluring and appealing.

How do you use "Sickening" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sickening" in a sentence: "a sickening display of emotion"; "sickened by the awful sight of the polluted river".

Is "Sickening" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sickening" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Sickening"?

"Sickening" is pronounced /ˈsi-kə-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as sick·en·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Sickening"?

First known use: 1789.