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Synonyms

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • sickeningly adverb

Etymology

Origin of sickening

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

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.

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

“The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting,” they said in a statement to local media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026

His parents, meanwhile, have accused the administration of spreading "sickening lies" about what happened.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

"The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

A sickening stench rose from the darkness below.

From "I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964" by Lauren Tarshis

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.