queasy
Americanadjective
-
having the feeling that one is about to vomit; nauseous
-
feeling or causing uneasiness
a queasy conscience
Other Word Forms
- queasily adverb
- queasiness noun
Etymology
Origin of queasy
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English qweysy, coisi, of uncertain origin
Explanation
Queasy describes a feeling of nervousness, uneasiness, or anxiety. If you're queasy about making a speech in front of the entire high school, you have a feeling that it won't go well. Queasy can also mean feeling sick to your stomach. If you eat a sandwich made of turkey that expired two months ago, you'll likely feel queasy and throw up. If you feel queasy during a flight, both meanings of the word can apply: you may be queasy — as in anxious — because you're afraid of flying. And you may also be queasy — as in sick to your stomach — as a result of the air turbulence.
Vocabulary lists containing queasy
Flowers for Algernon
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Don’t take his deal if it leaves you feeling queasy or questionable, especially if you don’t like your children being potentially dependent on the largesse of your husband.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
It was the only thing within a multi-gate radius — a landscape of breakfast smash burgers and pepperoni pizza bagels — that didn’t make me queasy.
From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026
The energy of the series flags considerably and it’s difficult not to feel a little queasy as we watch her unravel.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
If the market pullback has you queasy, consider it an opportunity to take stock of your investments.
From Barron's • Nov. 18, 2025
Any sighting of a mathematical equation on a blackboard still makes me queasy.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
