sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsi-kə-niŋ How to pronounce sickening (audio)
ˈsik-niŋ
Synonyms of sickeningnext
: causing sickness or disgust
a sickening odor
a sickening display
sickeningly
ˈsi-kə-niŋ-lē How to pronounce sickening (audio)
ˈsik-niŋ-
adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But a radioactive cloud was wafting across Europe, setting off alarms in a Swedish laboratory nearly seven hundred miles away and slowly sickening tens of thousands of people. Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026 That flight had twice aborted takeoff and declared an emergency due to an odor onboard that was sickening flight attendants. Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 Andi's heart gave a single, sickening jolt that emptied her lungs. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 In a sickening moment broadcast live after Boyes’s shot missed, Long moved quickly about, shooting many hostages. Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sickening

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sickening was in 1789

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sickening.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sickening. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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 How to pronounce sickening (audio)
: causing sickness or nausea

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