sickening

adjective

sick·​en·​ing ˈsi-kə-niŋ How to pronounce sickening (audio)
ˈsik-niŋ
: 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 These are sickening data and indeed suggest that the school workplace is making teachers sick. Brandon Busteed, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The East Coast and Great Lakes regions got a taste of that future last summer, when wildfire smoke blown over from Canada’s record burns turned the sky in some places a sickening orange. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 As a massive underground garbage fire continues to spread sickening odors and noxious fumes over Castaic area neighborhoods, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger has called on Chiquita Canyon Landfill owners to relocate affected residents until the issue is resolved. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 My buddy Jon got a bite, set the hook and immediately heard a sickening SNAP! Jordan Rodriguez, Idaho Statesman, 26 Jan. 2024 Everyone in the Rose Bowl felt the sickening churn in the depths of our guts. Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024 Over the past few months, the mysterious respiratory illness that almost cost Copper his life has been sickening dogs across the US. Sassafras Lowrey, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2023 The child was hospitalized but child service investigators found another sickening scene at the home. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2023 There’s a ripping sound, as if reality itself is being torn, then a thick and sickening thud. John Kelly, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sickening.' 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

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sickening was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near sickening

Cite this Entry

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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on sickening

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