What does sicken mean?
Sicken is a verb with both literal and figurative uses. Literally, it means to make someone or something ill, as in a disease or harmful condition that sickens people, animals, crops, or plants. Figuratively, it means to provoke intense disgust or revulsion, often because an action or situation appears morally offensive or profoundly wrong. The figurative sense is especially characteristic of formal and literary English: a person may say that cruelty, corruption, or hypocrisy sickened them. Compared with the everyday phrase 'make sick', 'sicken' often carries a stronger emotional and morally charged tone. Although the word can describe physical illness, its figurative use is now among its most recognizable meanings. Sicken is related to the older Germanic adjective sick and to derivatives such as sickness and sickly, but it developed its own distinctive verbal force: it describes not only becoming unwell but also the powerful reaction of disgust that a person or society may experience.
verbTo make someone or something ill, or to cause something to deteriorate. It can also mean to cause intense disgust or revulsion, especially in figurative contexts.
- To make a person or animal ill.
- To cause a thing, such as a crop, animal, or plant, to become unhealthy or deteriorate.
- To cause intense disgust or revulsion, especially in figurative or moral contexts.
"The corruption sickened the community and destroyed public trust."
"The contaminated water sickened several workers."
"The sight of the politicians ignoring the suffering sickened even their supporters."
Sicken can describe physical illness, but its sharpest figurative power is the feeling it can create: disgust at something so wrong that it makes ordinary language seem inadequate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How sicken is actually used
Sicken is usually transitive and is more literary or forceful than the neutral expression 'make sick'. Its figurative use often conveys moral disgust, outrage, or a sense that something is deeply offensive.
Easily confused with sicken
Sick is an adjective or noun meaning affected by illness, while sicken is a verb meaning to make someone or something ill or to cause revulsion.