Sick is a very common English word with several meanings. It can describe being ill, feeling nauseatedFeeling like you may throw up; queasy in the stomach., being deeply fedSatisfied after having enough to eat; no longer hungry. up with something, or, in older and more literary use, having a strong emotionalRelated to feelings, moods, or strong inner reactions. reaction.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /sɪk/
Easy pronunciation: SIK (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, stressed on the only syllable.
Adjective meaning ill or unwell.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sick Meaning
ill or unwell
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
Example: She has been sick all week.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ill — The closest everyday synonym for being unwell.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Sick
Meaning 2
feeling like you might throw up
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: feeling nausea; feeling about to vomit
Example: The smell made him feel sick.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- nauseated — Direct substitute in formal usage.
- queasy — Common informal synonym for feeling nauseous.
- nauseous — Often used this way in everyday English, though some speakers prefer it for causing nausea rather than feeling it.
- sickish — Means slightly sick to the stomach; less common.
Meaning 3
fed up or tired of something
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: having a strong distaste from surfeit
Example: I'm sick of hearing the same excuses.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- fed up — Very common and natural substitute.
- tired of — Works well in most everyday contexts.
- disgusted — Works when the feeling is strong, but often implies stronger emotion than simple boredom.
- sick of — Fixed expression built from sick.
Meaning 4
horribly disgusting or disturbing
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
Example: They described a sick crime scene.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ghastly — Strong substitute when something is horrifying or repulsive.
- grisly — Fits violent or gruesome scenes.
- gruesome — A close match for something horrible to look at or think about.
- macabre — Best for dark, death-related horror.
- grim — Can work, but is broader and less specifically horrifying.
Meaning 5
vomit
Part of speech: verb
Definition: eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
Example: He got sick after the boat ride.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- vomit — Standard verb for the action.
- throw up — Very common informal synonym.
- puke — Common informal synonym.
- barf — Very informal synonym.
- retch — Can mean making the motion or effort to vomit, not always producing vomit.
- regurgitate — Literal and more formal; often used in medical or animal contexts.
Meaning 6
overwhelmed by an emotion
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: deeply affected by a strong feeling
Example: She felt sick with envy.
Meaning 7
sick people
Part of speech: noun
Definition: people who are sick
Example: The charity helps the sick.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sick Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- ill
feeling nausea; feeling about to vomit
- nauseated
- queasy
- nauseous
- sickish
having a strong distaste from surfeit
- fed up
- tired of
- disgusted
- sick of
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
- ghastly
- grisly
- gruesome
- macabre
- grim
eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth
- vomit
- throw up
- puke
- barf
- retch
- regurgitate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Sick in a Sentence
- Are you feeling sick?
- I'm sick of waiting.
- The movie had some sick scenes.
- He got sick on the train.
- The hospital was full of the sick.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using sick to mean only 'vomiting' and forgetting it can also mean 'ill' or 'fed up'.
- Treating nauseous as the same as sick in every context; usage can differ by speaker and region.
- Using crazy or mad as if they were normal synonyms for sick in the illness sense.
- Mixing up sick with pale or wan, which describe appearance rather than sickness.
- Assuming the noun sick always means illness; it can also refer to sick people collectively.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common meaning of sick?
The most common everyday meaning is 'ill' or 'unwell'.
Is sick a synonym for nauseous?
Sometimes, yes. Sick can mean feeling like you might vomit, but nauseated or queasy are often clearer.
Can sick mean angry or annoyed?
Not usually by itself. In phrases like sick of something, it means tired of or fed up with it.
Is sick a noun?
Yes. As a noun, it can refer to sick people as a group.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-15. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.