sicken

verb

sick·​en ˈsi-kən 

sickened; sickening ˈsi-kə-niŋ 

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 

ˈsik-nər

noun

Synonyms of sicken

• disgust
• repulse
• appall
• nauseate
• horrify

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

See map People in 32 states across the country have been sickened from the ongoing salmonella outbreak. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026

The nation became both fascinated and sickened with the case during the nine-month trial that ensued, which resulted in Manson being sentenced to death in 1971 for conspiracy to commit the grisly murders. — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026

Key Background This is the second voluntary recall Taylor Farms has conducted in recent weeks, after lettuce from the produce company was linked to the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened tens of thousands of people across the country. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing sicken

• sicken of

Rhymes for sicken

• chicken
• likin
• quicken
• stricken
• thicken
• indican

Kids Definition

sicken

verb

sick·​en ˈsik-ən 

sickened; sickening -(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become sick

Medical Definition

sicken

transitive verb

sick·​en ˈsik-ən 

: to make sick

intransitive verb

: to become sick