nauseous

American  

[naw-shuhs, -zee-uhs] / ˈnɔ ʃəs, -zi əs /

adjective

1. affected with nausea; nauseated.

   to feel nauseous.

2. causing nausea; sickening; nauseating.

   a nauseous smell.

3. disgusting; loathsome.

   a nauseous display of greed.

   Synonyms:

   repulsive, despicable, detestable, abhorrent, repellent, nasty, nasty, revolting

   Antonyms:

   delightful

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nauseous British  

/ ˈnɔːzɪəs, -sɪ- /

adjective

1. feeling sick

2. causing nausea

3. distasteful to the mind or senses; repulsive

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Usage

What does nauseous mean? To be nauseous is to have nausea—to feel sick in your stomach, as if you might vomit. The word nauseated means the same thing.Nauseous can also mean the same thing as nauseating—causing nausea. However, nauseous is much less commonly used this way (despite the fact that some people insist that it’s the “proper” use of the word).The word nausea can also be used in a figurative way meaning a feeling of disgust, revulsion, or repulsion, and nauseous can be used to describe things that make people feel this way, meaning about the same thing as disgusting or loathsome. However, the word nauseating is more commonly used in a figurative context, as in Your linguistic pedantry is nauseating. Example: If you feel nauseous, try lying down and breathing through your nose.

Commonly Confused

The two literal senses of nauseous, “affected with nausea” ( to feel nauseous ) and “causing nausea” ( a nauseous smell ), appear in English at almost the same time in the early 17th century, and both senses are in standard use at the present time. Nauseous is more common than nauseated in the sense “affected with nausea,” despite recent objections by those who imagine the sense to be new. In the sense “causing nausea,” either literally or figuratively, nauseating has become more common than nauseous : a nauseating smell.

Other Word Forms

• nauseously adverb
• nauseousness noun

Etymology

Origin of nauseous

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin nauseōsus; nausea, -ous

Example Sentences

Even when he was nauseous, sweating and fatigued, Marty showed up.

From Los Angeles Times

As soon as we enter, the forest spins around like a carousel, making me dizzy and nauseous.

From Literature

Fifty-six years ago today I was a nauseous pregnant bride in a Las Vegas roadside wedding chapel with Francis and eight members of our families.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you’re a Targaryen on “House of the Dragon,” childbirth is as likely to be a nauseous, chunky event as a joyous one.

From Salon

And while I emerged from each of my three circuits dripping sweat and faintly nauseous, I could see the appeal of a full-body experience that requires being almost parodically in the moment.

From The Wall Street Journal