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Definition of sicken verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    sicken

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//ˈsɪkən//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they sicken
     
    he / she / it sickens
     
    past simple sickened
     
    -ing form sickening
     
     
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  1. 1[transitive, usually passive] sicken somebody to make someone feel very shocked and angry synonym disgust We were sickened by the pictures of violence and death. Thesaurusshock
    • appall
    • horrify
    • disgust
    • sicken
    • repulse
    These words all mean to surprise and upset someone very much.
    • shock [often passive] to surprise someone, usually in a way that upsets them:We were all shocked at the news of his death.
    • appall to shock and upset someone very much:I was appalled at the way she spoke to her mother.
    • horrify to make someone feel extremely shocked, upset, or frightened:The whole country was horrified by the kidnapping.
    • disgust to make someone feel shocked and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:The level of violence in the movie really disgusted me.
    • sicken to make someone feel very shocked, angry, and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:I was sickened by the lack of concern for the child's welfare.
    • repulse [often passive] (somewhat formal) to make someone feel disgust or strong dislike:I was repulsed by the smell of liquor on his breath.
    Patterns
    • shocked/appalled/horrified/disgusted/repulsed at somebody/something
    • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust somebody that…
    • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust/sicken somebody to think/see/hear…
    • somebody's behavior shocks/appalls somebody
    • violence/an idea shocks/appalls/horrifies/disgusts somebody
  2. 2[intransitive] (old-fashioned) to become sick The baby sickened and died before his first birthday.
    3. Thesaurusshock
    • appall
    • horrify
    • disgust
    • sicken
    • repulse
    These words all mean to surprise and upset someone very much.
    • shock [often passive] to surprise someone, usually in a way that upsets them:We were all shocked at the news of his death.
    • appall to shock and upset someone very much:I was appalled at the way she spoke to her mother.
    • horrify to make someone feel extremely shocked, upset, or frightened:The whole country was horrified by the kidnapping.
    • disgust to make someone feel shocked and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:The level of violence in the movie really disgusted me.
    • sicken to make someone feel very shocked, angry, and almost ill because something is so unpleasant:I was sickened by the lack of concern for the child's welfare.
    • repulse [often passive] (somewhat formal) to make someone feel disgust or strong dislike:I was repulsed by the smell of liquor on his breath.
    Patterns
    • shocked/appalled/horrified/disgusted/repulsed at somebody/something
    • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust somebody that…
    • to shock/appall/horrify/disgust/sicken somebody to think/see/hear…
    • somebody's behavior shocks/appalls somebody
    • violence/an idea shocks/appalls/horrifies/disgusts somebody
See sicken in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: sicken

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