as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
a sickening display of emotion
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in appalling
to cause to feel disgust
sickened by the awful sight of the polluted river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sickening
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Oil is a 20th century energy source, outmoded and responsible for sickening and killing millions of people with the potential to kill millions more.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Liz Szabo, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
The illness spreads through the tribe, sickening one of its leaders and creating division and disorder.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickening
Adjective
Jin Shin has come across some monster potholes over the last couple of weeks, including one in Koreatown that rattled his car with a sickening thump and another near the airport where its depth was obscured by water.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Oil is a 20th century energy source, outmoded and responsible for sickening and killing millions of people with the potential to kill millions more.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Flu season was particularly brutal last year, sickening at least 47 million Americans, hospitalizing 610,000 and killing 27,000, according to the CDC.
—Liz Szabo, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
The illness spreads through the tribe, sickening one of its leaders and creating division and disorder.
—Maggie Doherty, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sickening
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickening
Adjective
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Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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At one point a couple of years ago, Microsoft even used malware-like pop-ups in a disgusting overreach.—
Tom Warren,
The Verge,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
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Truly appalling friend counsel here from Mindy.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The killing and execution of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the horrible lies perpetuated by this government are abhorrent.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
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Someone should start talking about improving the state’s horrible inability to attract fellow Americans.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While there are dismemberments and other bits of gruesome violence to be found in the film, Badlands is largely aimed at endearing its audience rather than repulsing them.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Some offer a peek at my encounters backstage while waiting for the curtain to come up on me, while others pull back the curtain to share the raw truth about one of the most awful experiences in my private life.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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And finally… The death of seven PAOK supporters in a road accident last week was an unspeakably awful tragedy, and one that will hang over the club for a long time.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The visage, created by Universal Studio’s then-lead makeup artist Jack Pierce for the 1931 film, was horrifying enough that its influence endured for almost 100 years.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
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No special effects were required to trigger Curry's stark drift from amiability to horrifying emptiness.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As buried family secrets and small-town lies emerge, Courtney must decide who to trust before a shocking revelation changes everything.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
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Louisiana State Police announced on Saturday the capture of all eight inmates who escaped early Friday in a shocking East Carroll Parish jailbreak.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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And if his squad’s current mini-break produces a similar result — Missouri entered the holiday break with an ugly Braggin’ Rights loss to Illinois but came out of it with an upset of Florida — Gates would no doubt be pleased.—
Ally Schiepp,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sickening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickening. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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