What does sickened mean?
Sickened is the past tense and past participle of the verb sicken. It describes someone becoming ill, usually because of food, poison, fumes, or another harmful substance, and it can also describe being made deeply disgusted or distressed by an unpleasant sight, action, or experience. For example, a bad smell may sicken people physically, while a disturbing image may sicken them emotionally. The word is especially common in formal and literary writing, though it is perfectly understandable in ordinary speech. It is more vivid and specific than simply saying someone felt bad: the phrase 'sickened by the sight' conveys a strong physical or emotional reaction. Its older relatives, including sick, sickly, and sickness, all share the same Germanic root associated with illness.
To make someone ill or cause them to feel nausea.
"The spoiled shellfish sickened the diners."
Often used in passive or past-participle constructions: 'The workers were sickened by the fumes.'
To cause someone intense disgust, revulsion, or distress.
"The images of the suffering animals sickened her."
This extended sense is especially associated with formal and literary writing.
To become ill, especially as a result of an unpleasant or shocking experience.
"He sickened after tasting the unfamiliar sauce."
This intransitive use is less common than the causative and passive uses.
Having been made ill, disgusted, or emotionally distressed.
"The sickened passengers were treated by emergency crews."
Used mainly in literary contexts and often before a noun, especially as a modifier.
The word's vivid sense of disgust comes from the same ancient root as sick: what makes us physically ill can also make us recoil in disgust.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sickened come from?
Sicken developed in Middle English from the adjective sick, which comes from Old English seoc, meaning ill or unwell. The verb sicken therefore originally meant 'to make ill' or 'to become ill.' Later usage extended the word to describe intense disgust or emotional distress, in which sense the word often expresses a reaction to something morally or physically offensive.
Related word forms
How sickened is actually used
Sickened is formal and somewhat literary in its emotional sense, while its physical sense is standard in both formal and informal contexts. The form can function as a past participle, as in 'She was sickened by the news.'
Easily confused with sickened
Sick generally describes someone who is ill or unwell, whereas sickened is a verb form describing the act or result of becoming ill or feeling intense disgust or distress.