SICKENING Synonyms: 163 Similar and Opposite Words

sickening 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsi-kə-niŋ

Definition of sickening

as in disgusting

causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment a sickening display of emotion

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sickening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sicken

as in appalling

to cause to feel disgust sickened by the awful sight of the polluted river

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sickening

Adjective

Accumulating plastic waste is overwhelming waterways and oceans, sickening marine life and threatening human health. — Susanne Rust follow, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026 Bains doubles down; Villegas calls it ‘sickening’ Bains has repeatedly targeted Villegas over the settlements. — Mathew Miranda may 22, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026

Verb

But a few weeks into his vacation across the Atlantic Ocean, the Oregon doctor jumped into action caring for passengers after a deadly hantavirus outbreak began spreading through the ship, sickening the vessel’s doctor. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 8 May 2026 The plant—and particularly the liverwurst product made there—was determined to be the source of a Listeria outbreak that spanned May to September of last year, sickening at least 61 people across 19 states. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sickening

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sickening

Adjective

Noah Kahan is speaking out about a disgusting habit picked up by some music fans.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 29 June 2026
French broadcaster French Pierron was under fire for calling childbirth 'a disgusting moment.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026

Definition of disgusting

Verb

The young Forster recoiled from the school’s culture of authoritarianism and militaristic chauvinism, which may have found expression in the students’ often appalling attitudes toward their own mothers.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Of all the recent poster boys for appalling misbehavior by the State Police, Michael Proctor would of course rank number one.

— Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026

Definition of appalling

Adjective

And obviously, slavery was a terrible thing, and that was horrible.

— Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Horton, who married Rickman in 2012 in a private ceremony after more than 40 years together, also told the outlet that the diagnosis had been a horrible shock to them both.

— Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Definition of horrible

Adjective

One year Pippa Middleton faced the awful shame of having to sit in a normal seat after showing up late.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Sugar is at the forensic lab with the corpse of a man who looks an awful lot like Ji Moon but isn’t Ji Moon (courtesy of Shea Whigham as Tom Flybjerg).

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 27 June 2026

Definition of awful

Adjective

Cape Verde began this run by making a statement, producing a shocking 0-0 draw against soccer powerhouse Spain on June 15 in its first-ever World Cup match.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

Lasko’s teammate, Devin Taylor, was able to get up and field the rolling ball that split the two defenders, but Lasko stayed on the ground in what was a pretty ugly crash.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
His ability to perform a cesarean section — something Doc couldn't dream of — forces the town to reckon with an ugly part of their collective conscience.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026

Definition of ugly

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“Sickening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sickening. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sickening

adjective

verb

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