sickening

American  

[sik-uh-ning] / ˈsɪk ə nɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing or capable of causing sickness, especially nausea, disgust, or loathing.

   sickening arrogance.

   Synonyms:

   loathsome, disgusting, nauseating

---

sickening British  

/ ˈsɪkənɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing sickness or revulsion

2. informal extremely annoying

---

Other Word Forms

• sickeningly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of sickening

First recorded in 1715–25; sicken + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Accumulating plastic waste is overwhelming waterways and oceans, sickening marine life and threatening human health.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Alfie's prediction: It's quite sickening for Spurs fans that we poached Thomas Frank from Brentford last summer and they have gone on to have their best-ever season.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

In fact, such a thing had been in the works since the 1950s, but instead of hurrying to get them assembly-line ready as L.A. was sickening with smog, Detroit just made bigger, filthier cars.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK spokesperson for home affairs, said the reports were "sickening" and described West Midlands Police's initial claim of no evidence as a "complete collapse of duty".

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Even under the sickening fluorescents of the hallway, she was beautiful.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Related Words

• nasty
• putrid