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

• disgust
• appal
• 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

Cucumbers are being recalled nationwide after a salmonella outbreak sickened 26 people and hospitalized nine across 15 states, including Tennessee. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025

So far, people in two states have reported being sickened from the product, according to the FDA and the CDA. Minnesota (three people) New Jersey (one person) What pistachio cream is being recalled? —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 18 June 2025

Saturday’s outbreak update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 79 people have been sickened in this outbreak with 21 hospitalizations. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 26 people have been sickened in the outbreak across 15 states, with nine of them being hospitalized. —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 20 May 2025

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