Nausea is a noun with two related but distinctClearly different from another thing or idea. meanings. Most often, it refers to the feeling that comes before vomitingForcing food or liquid out of the stomach through the mouth.. It can also mean a strong sense of disgustA very unpleasant feeling of revulsion toward something. that makes someone feel sick.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈnɔziə/
Easy pronunciation: NAW-zee-uh (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Primary sense: the feeling or state that comes just before vomiting.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Nausea Meaning
the feeling that you might throw up
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the feeling or state that comes just before vomiting
Example: I felt nausea after the boat ride.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- sickness — A common near-synonym in this physical sense, though it can be broader than nausea.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Nausea
Meaning 2
a strong feeling of disgust
Part of speech: noun
Definition: disgust so strong it makes you feel sick
Example: The smell of the garbage filled her with nausea.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Nausea Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- sickness
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using nausea to mean ordinary illness in general. It specifically refers to the sick feeling that often comes before vomiting, or to intense disgust.
- Treating nausea and nauseous as the same part of speech. Nausea is a noun; nauseous is an adjective.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does nausea mean?
Nausea usually means the feeling that comes just before vomiting. It can also refer to a strong feeling of disgust that makes someone feel sick.
What is a simple synonym for nausea?
A common synonym for the physical sense is sickness, though nausea is more specific.
Is nausea the same as vomiting?
No. Nausea is the feeling before vomiting; vomiting is actually throwing up.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
