nauseate

[ naw-zee-eyt, -zhee-, -see-, -shee- ]

verb (used with object)

, nau·se·at·ed, nau·se·at·ing.

1. to affect with nausea; sicken 1:

   The overwhelming smell of boiled cabbage nauseated them.

2. to cause to feel extreme disgust:

   His vicious behavior toward the dogs nauseates me.

   Synonyms: revolt

   Antonyms: delight, attract

verb (used without object)

, nau·se·at·ed, nau·se·at·ing.

1. to become affected with nausea.

nauseate

/ ˈnɔːzɪˌeɪt; -sɪ- /

verb

1. tr to arouse feelings of disgust or revulsion in
2. to feel or cause to feel sick

Derived Forms

• ˈnauseˌating, adjective
• ˈnauseˌatingly, adverb
• ˌnauseˈation, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nauseate¹

First recorded in 1630–40, nauseate is from the Latin word nauseātus (past participle of nauseāre “to be seasick”). See nausea, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Attack ads nauseate Cory Booker, Pelosi predicts a dead-even election, and more.

From The Daily Beast

In the dryest, the largest, the best of them there is everything to debase the manhood and nauseate the soul.

From Project Gutenberg

Actually I was under the impression that sweet lemonade would nauseate a grown man, if taken so soon after dinner.

From Project Gutenberg

The recollection alone was almost enough to nauseate him, and he always had ridden a wide circle at the first whiff.

From Project Gutenberg

Any thing affected or imitated is apt to nauseate when contrasted with the genuine and natural.

From Project Gutenberg

Will nauseate some persons, but the reaction from the temporary depression is prompt.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• horrify
• sicken

More About Nauseate

What does nauseate mean?

To nauseate means to cause nausea—a feeling of sickness in your stomach, as if you might vomit.

The word nauseated is commonly used as an adjective to mean feeling nausea. The adjective nauseous is more commonly used to mean the same thing.

The adjective nauseating means causing nausea (nauseous can also be used to mean this, but that’s much less common).

The word nausea can also be used in a figurative way meaning a feeling of disgust, revulsion, or repulsion, and nauseate can mean to make someone feel this, meaning the same thing as the verb disgust, as in Their cruelty nauseates me. 

Much less commonly, nauseate can mean to become nauseous, as in I nauseate whenever I ride a rollercoaster. 

Example: I’m not sure what nauseated me more—the disgusting food or the server’s disgusting comments.

Where does nauseate come from?

The first records of the word nauseate come from the 1600s. It is thought to ultimately derive from the Greek nausíā, meaning “seasickness,” from naûs, meaning “ship” (the same root is the basis of the word nautical).

People can be nauseated by seasickness and many other conditions that affect the stomach, such as motion sickness, morning sickness, carsickness, anxiety, or from the side effects of medications. People are often nauseated by something they ate. When you’re nauseous, the very thought of eating can nauseate you even more. The figurative use of nauseate is also very common—it’s usually reserved for someone or something that really disgusts the speaker, especially by being immoral in some way.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to nauseate?

• nauseated (past tense verb, adjective)
• nauseating (continuous tense verb, adjective)
• nausea (noun)

What are some synonyms for nauseate?

• sicken
• disgust
• repulse

What are some words that share a root or word element with nauseate? 

• nauseous
• nauseant
• nautical

What are some words that often get used in discussing nauseate?

• sick to one’s stomach
• queasy
• feel
• sick
• stomach
• vomit
• throw up

How is nauseate used in real life?

Nauseate is commonly used in both literal and figurative ways.

@CBCebulski New York cab rides tend to nauseate me as well. Hope she held in there.

— Joshua L. A. Jones (@JLAJones) July 1, 2009

Scented trash bags absolutely nauseate me every time 😔 who’s idea was that

— yoongis queer vans ⁷-ᴮᴱ (@hoshikicola) October 24, 2020

I am nauseated by these millionaire politicians giving tons of money to big corporations and their donors but haggling over providing everyday citizens $1,200 in relief. It sickens me.

— Mike Labonte (@MikeLabonte2) October 21, 2020

 

Try using nauseate!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of nauseate?

A. sicken
B. disgust
C. repulse
D. all of the above