- 1suffering from a disease or illness synonym ill a sick child Her mother's very sick. Peter has been out sick (= away from work because he is sick) for two weeks. Erica just called in sick (= telephoned to say she will not be coming to work because she is sick). I can't afford to get sick (= become sick).
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wanting to vomit - 2[not usually before noun] feeling that you want to vomit Mom, I feel sick! If you eat any more candy, you'll make yourself sick. a sick feeling in your stomach
- 3(in compounds) feeling sick as a result of traveling on a ship, plane, etc. seasick airsick carsick bored
- 4(informal) bored with or annoyed about something that has been happening for a long time, and wanting it to stop sick of somebody/something I'm sick of the way you treat me. I'm sick and tired of your complaining. I'm sick to death of all of you! We are really getting sick of your attitude. sick of doing something We're sick of waiting around like this. cruel/strange
- 5(informal) (especially of humor) dealing with suffering, disease, or death in a cruel way that some people think is offensive a sick joke That's really sick.
- 6(informal) getting enjoyment from doing strange or cruel things a sick mind People think I'm sick for having a rat as a pet. We live in a sick society. see homesick, lovesick Topic CollocationsBeing Sickgetting sick
- catch a cold/an infectious disease/the flu/pneumonia/a virus/ (informal) a bug
- get sick/a disease/AIDS/breast cancer/a cold/the flu/a migraine
- come down with a cold/the flu
- contract a deadly disease/a serious illness/HIV/AIDS
- be infected with a virus/a parasite/HIV
- develop cancer/diabetes/a rash/an ulcer/symptoms of hepatitis
- have a heart attack/a stroke
- provoke/trigger/produce an allergic reaction
- block/rupture a blood vessel
- damage/sever a nerve/an artery/a tendon
- feel sick/nauseous/queasy
- be running a fever/a temperature
- have a head cold/diabetes/heart disease/lung cancer/a headache/a fever/a high temperature
- suffer from asthma/malnutrition/frequent headaches/bouts of depression/a mental illness
- be in bed with/be laid up with a cold/the flu/a migraine
- nurse a cold/a headache/a hangover
- battle/fight cancer/depression/addiction/alcoholism
- examine a patient
- diagnose a condition/disease/disorder
- be diagnosed with cancer/diabetes/schizophrenia
- prescribe/be given/be on/take drugs/medicine/medication/pills/painkillers/antibiotics
- treat somebody for cancer/depression/shock
- have/undergo an examination/an operation/surgery/a kidney transplant/therapy/chemotherapy/treatment for cancer
- have/be given an injection/a flu shot/a blood transfusion/a scan/an X-ray
- cure a disease/an ailment/cancer/a headache/a patient
- prevent the spread of disease/further outbreaks/damage to the lungs
- be vaccinated against the flu/(the) measles/polio/smallpox
- enhance/boost/confer/build up immunity to a disease
- 1feeling very angry or worried Nora felt sick to her stomach after hearing this news.
- 2feeling that you want to vomit
suffering from disease
to bring food from your stomach back out through your mouth synonym vomit I was sick three times last night. She was violently sick.
to be extremely worried Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you. She was worrying herself sick about her final exam.
to become sick A week later he fell sick and died.
to make someone angry or disgusted His hypocrisy makes me sick.
feeling very sick; vomit a lot
very unhappy or disappointed
Check pronunciation: sick