sicken

1 of 2

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

sickener

2 of 2

noun

sick·​en·​er -k(ə)nə(r) 

plural -s

: something that tends to sicken or disgust : a sickening blow : overdose

Synonyms of sicken

Verb

• disgust
• repulse
• appall
• nauseate
• horrify

Examples of sicken in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Cyclosporiasis has been sickening thousands of people across the country, particularly in Michigan, recently with an intestinal illness causing explosive diarrhea with severe stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026

Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a pathogen in tainted produce, which has already sickened thousands of Americans this summer. — Taylor Swinton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026

No lettuce, please Lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants has been linked to an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people in in five states, federal health officials say. — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Taco Bell Federal health officials and regulators confirmed that shredded iceberg lettuce sent to certain Taco Bell locations from Taylor Farms was linked to the outbreak that has sickened thousands of people. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

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