Sickening Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Psychology

• The emotion of disgust, often linked to 'sickening', is believed to help humans avoid harmful substances.
• Experiencing something sickening can trigger physical responses, such as nausea, as the brain processes danger.
• Cultural differences affect what people find sickening, showing how subjective feelings can be.

Literature

• Many authors use 'sickening' to evoke strong emotional responses from characters or readers, especially in horror genres.
• In Shakespeare’s works, characters express feelings of disgust that highlight moral decay or betrayal—often described as sickening.
• Contemporary novels frequently use the term to portray societal problems, emphasizing the emotional weight of certain issues.

Health and Medicine

• Certain illnesses, like food poisoning, are often described as sickening, signaling the body's reaction to harmful substances.
• Mental health discussions may use the term to describe feelings related to anxiety or panic, emphasizing the emotional toll.
• Symptoms of sickness—like nausea—can be heavily tied to the experiences that feel mentally or emotionally sickening.

Pop Culture

• In movies, scenes deemed sickening often shock the audience, eliciting strong emotional reactions.
• Social media often labels certain trends or behaviors as sickening in the context of ethical or moral discussions.
• Sickening plot twists in television shows can surprise audiences, reinforcing the element of shock commonly associated with suspense.

Main points about word origin

• The word comes from the Old English 'sēoc', meaning unwell or ill.
• 'Sickening' first appeared in English texts around the 15th century, evolving from the adjective 'sick'.
• In modern usage, it can describe both physical illness and intense feelings of disgust.

The word 'sickening' is derived from the verb 'sicken,' which dates back to the 14th century. Originally, it referred to causing sickness or nausea. Over time, the meaning has expanded to include anything that causes extreme disgust or revulsion. The adjective 'sickening' is commonly used in informal language to describe something that is extremely unpleasant or disgusting.

With rank #19,274, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

• ...
• 19271 pallid
• 19272 chili
• 19273 granule
• 19274 sickening
• 19275 alleviating
• 19276 wrestle
• 19277 perinatal
• ...