verb
Freq #41645
Meanings
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1
verb
to become ill
Several passengers began to sicken after drinking the untreated water.
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2
verb
to make someone physically ill or nauseated
Contaminated shellfish can sicken anyone who eats them.
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3
verb
to cause strong disgust or revulsion
The deliberate cruelty in the report would sicken most readers.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English sekenen, formed from sick + the verb-forming suffix -en. Cognates in Scandinavian languages likewise mean 'become ill,' including Danish sygne and Icelandic sjukna.