What does retched mean?
Retched is chiefly a British adjective describing an intense feeling of nausea, disgust, or revulsion. A person may say that they feel retched after eating spoiled food, while the word can also convey moral or emotional disgust at cruel, unfair, or disgusting conduct. Its tone is informal, vivid, and strongly emotive, so it is less suitable for neutral formal prose than terms such as nauseated or appalled. Retched is also the past tense and past participle of the verb retch, meaning to vomit or make a retching sound. In contemporary usage, however, the adjective sense is much more prominent. The expression can therefore suggest physical illness, overwhelming revulsion, or both, depending on context.
Feeling nausea or strong physical disgust; expressing intense revulsion.
"The sight of the overflowing bin made us feel retched."
Chiefly British and relatively informal. It can describe either nausea or intense disgust.
The past tense and past participle of retch: to vomit or make a retching sound.
"The child retched as soon as she tasted the medicine."
Normally used in the past tense or as a past participle rather than as the base form.
Sometimes the most accurate reaction is simply: I feel absolutely retched.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does retched come from?
The word belongs to the English verb retch, which means to vomit or make a sound associated with vomiting. Its deeper origin is not sufficiently clear to state with certainty, so it is best not presented as a confidently identified borrowing. The adjective and verb form retched developed from the older verb within English.
Related word forms
How retched is actually used
Chiefly British in standard usage, though now also understood in American English. It is relatively informal and emotional, especially when used to describe a reaction caused by something disgusting or morally objectionable.