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
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.
The 15-state outbreak has sickened at least 20, killing four, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA began investigating cases of listeria poisoning, or listeriosis, in September. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Oct. 2025 The 15-state outbreak has sickened at least 20, killing four, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA began investigating cases of listeria poisoning, or listeriosis, in September. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas cruise ship was hit with a norovirus outbreak that has sickened nearly 100 people. Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025 In March 2020, following a European tour, both country-folk singer and songwriter and his wife of 23 years, Fiona, were sickened by coronavirus (COVID-19). Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sicken

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

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Cite this Entry

“Sicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sicken. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

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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