sicken

verb

sick·​en ˈsi-kən How to pronounce sicken (audio)
sickened; sickening ˈsi-kə-niŋ How to pronounce sicken (audio)
ˈsik-niŋ

intransitive verb

1
: to become sick
2
: to become weary or satiated

transitive verb

1
: to make sick
2
: to cause revulsion in
their prejudice sickens me
sickener
ˈsi-kə-nər How to pronounce sicken (audio)
ˈsik-nər
noun

Examples of sicken in a Sentence

Many people sickened and died on the long voyage. The bacteria in the drinking water sickened the whole village. We were sickened by the reports of violence.
Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this month, the manufacturer recalled cheeses and dairy products made in its Modesto, California, facility after federal officials connected the products to a decade-long multi-state listeria outbreak that has sickened 26, hospitalized 23, and left two people dead. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2024 Earlier this month, the CDC announced that 24 people had been sickened from salmonella after consuming ready-to-eat charcuterie meats. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Jan. 2024 Among the 14 states listed on the CDC’s map, Ohio has 11 sickened, the most of the outbreak. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 5 Jan. 2024 The nakedly political agenda of Francis (who may be better described as papacy-adjacent than as a pope) is sickening enough for its sheer destructiveness, and then there is his pettiness and vindictiveness. Ashley McGuire, National Review, 1 Dec. 2023 Dairy products made by Rizo Lopez Foods are the source of the listeria outbreak that has killed two people and sickened more than two dozen since 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a press release. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2024 About 1,600 people are sickened by listeria food poisoning every year, according to the CDC. Jonel Aleccia, Twin Cities, 9 Feb. 2024 Also much more dangerous are foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli, which can severely sicken and even kill. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024 People began getting sick in mid-January and illnesses continued into August, according to the agency, which said the actual number of individuals sickened in the outbreak is likely much higher than reported. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 9 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sicken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sicken was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near sicken

Cite this Entry

“Sicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sicken. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sicken

verb
sick·​en ˈsik-ən How to pronounce sicken (audio)
sickened; sickening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce sicken (audio)
: to make or become sick

Medical Definition

sicken

transitive verb
sick·​en ˈsik-ən How to pronounce sicken (audio)
: to make sick

intransitive verb

: to become sick

More from Merriam-Webster on sicken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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