sickened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sickened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a feeling of nausea or disgust, often in response to something unpleasant or disturbing. Example: "The graphic images in the documentary left me feeling sickened and unable to eat for the rest of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

The Economist

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I am too young to remember Thatcher, but I have been shocked and sickened by the politics of the past five years, in particular the denigration of the most vulnerable members of our society.

The Guardian

"The whole nation was sickened by the pictures of that wild melee," wrote King's widow Coretta Scott King.

The Guardian - Film

By war's end, Madi, who was not Jewish, had filled 16 notebooks in handwritten English that serve as a grim portrait of the Holocaust in Hungary and of a defiant woman sickened by its cruelty.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for Thanet Stand Up To Ukip said: "We were sickened to see that this man who had come to our meetings, socialised with us, listened to our conversations seems all the time to have been a member of Nigel Farage's team.

The Guardian

Vasseur's unflinching account of life in La Santé sickened the French public.

The Guardian

I was sickened to look up and see that the abuse came from a middle-aged woman.

The Guardian - Sport

MERS's cousin, SARS, sickened more than 8,000 ten years ago.

The Economist

The tsunami washing over Barisan is of the young and the rising urban middle class, sickened at the unfairness, cronyism and corruption they see around them.

The Economist

Sickened by 34 years of wretched Communist rule, they handed power to Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress.

The Economist

After thousands of children were sickened by melamine-contaminated milk last year, OCI helped their parents press for compensation, upstaging a government-backed compensation scheme which offered lower amounts.

The Economist

See articleTwenty-six years after a chemical plant operated by Union Carbide in the Indian city of Bhopal leaked gas that killed at least 15,000 people and sickened half a million, eight men were found guilty of negligence in a case and sentenced to two years in prison.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sickened" to convey a strong feeling of disgust or revulsion, whether physical or emotional. It's suitable when something deeply unpleasant has caused a negative reaction.

Common error

Avoid using "sickened" for minor annoyances or dislikes. Reserve it for situations that evoke a genuinely strong feeling of disgust or revulsion to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

Sickened functions primarily as an adjective, describing a state of feeling disgusted or repulsed. It can also function as the past participle of the verb 'sicken'. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples show its use in expressing strong negative emotional or physical reactions to something unpleasant.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

The Economist

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Independent

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "sickened" is primarily used as an adjective to describe a state of feeling disgusted or repulsed, or as the past participle of the verb 'sicken'. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. When writing, it's best to use "sickened" to describe truly strong feelings of disgust and to avoid overusing it for milder situations. Alternatives like "disgusted", "revolted", and "nauseated" can provide more nuanced expressions of negative feelings. The high expert rating and authoritative sources confirm its reliability and appropriate use in formal and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Disgusted

Focuses more on moral revulsion than physical discomfort.

Revolted

Implies a strong feeling of disgust and aversion.

Nauseated

Highlights the feeling of sickness and unease.

Repulsed

Emphasizes the feeling of being pushed away by something unpleasant.

Appalled

Indicates shock and dismay at something considered wrong or immoral.

Horrified

Suggests intense fear or shock.

Offended

Highlights a feeling of being insulted or disrespected.

Made ill

Focuses on the physical effect of something causing sickness.

Turned off

Indicates a loss of interest or attraction due to something unpleasant.

Displeased

Suggests a mild form of dissatisfaction or disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "sickened" in a sentence?

You can use "sickened" to describe a feeling of disgust or revulsion. For example, "I was "sickened" by the graphic images in the documentary."

What are some alternatives to "sickened"?

You can use alternatives such as "disgusted", "revolted", or "nauseated" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I am sickened by"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "I am "sickened" by" something. It indicates that you feel a strong sense of disgust or revulsion towards it.

What's the difference between "sickened" and "saddened"?

"Sickened" implies a feeling of disgust or revulsion, while "saddened" implies a feeling of sorrow or unhappiness. They describe different emotional responses to events or situations.