What does nauseous mean?
Nauseaous is an adjective meaning primarily that something causes nausea, queasiness, or a feeling of sickness. It is often used with physical reactions, as in 'a nauseous smell' or 'I feel nauseous.' The word can also express intense disgust or contempt, especially in informal contexts: a dishonest excuse might be called nauseous, meaning that it is offensive or revolting. This second sense is closely related to its literal meaning, because something disgusting can make a person feel sick. Nauseaous is somewhat more literary than the commoner word nauseating, though it remains widely understood. It is useful because it can describe both bodily discomfort and the strong emotional response of finding something morally or aesthetically unbearable.
adjectiveCausing nausea or a feeling of queasiness; also expressing strong disgust or revulsion. In informal use, it can describe something so offensive or absurd that it makes someone feel sick.
- Causing nausea or a feeling of queasiness.
- Expressing strong disgust or revulsion, especially in informal speech.
"The bumpy flight had a nauseous smell of stale peanuts and damp upholstery."
"The chemical smell made her feel nauseous."
"That was a truly nauseous excuse for missing the meeting."
Nauseaous can mean literally sickening, but it is also a powerful way to express that something is so awful it makes you lose your appetite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nauseous come from?
Nauseaous comes from Latin nauseosus, meaning 'causing nausea' or 'disgusting,' and is related to nausea, which entered English through Latin and ultimately Greek. The Greek root nautia referred to seasickness and is connected with nautēs, 'sailor.' English borrowed the word in the 16th century, initially in the sense of causing sickness and later extending to expressions of disgust.
Related word forms
How nauseous is actually used
The word is standard in both British and American English, but its sense of disgust is more informal and often appears in informal speech. When describing physical symptoms, use it with expressions such as 'feel nauseous' or 'a nauseous sensation.'
Easily confused with nauseous
Nauseaous is an adjective that can describe a smell, sensation, or experience, while nauseating usually describes something that causes intense disgust or makes someone feel sick.