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Squeamish: meaning, definitions and examples

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squeamish

 

[ ˈskwiːmɪʃ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling sick or nauseated

Easily made to feel sick, especially by unpleasant things. Squeamish people may feel queasy at the sight of blood or violence.

Synonyms

nauseous, queasy, sensitive

Examples of usage

  • She's a bit squeamish about horror movies.
  • He's so squeamish that he can't even watch surgical procedures on TV.
Context #2 | Adjective

easily shocked or disgusted

Easily shocked or disgusted by what is perceived as offensive or unpleasant. Squeamish individuals may have a low tolerance for explicit content.

Synonyms

prudish, sensitive, timid

Examples of usage

  • She's too squeamish to even read the news sometimes.
  • Don't show that photo to him, he's quite squeamish.

Translations

Translations of the word "squeamish" in other languages:

🇵🇹 escrupuloso

🇮🇳 सहमी हुई

🇩🇪 zimperlich

🇮🇩 pengecut

🇺🇦 бридливий

🇵🇱 wrażliwy

🇯🇵 気難しい

🇫🇷 délicat

🇪🇸 delicado

🇹🇷 hassas

🇰🇷 까다로운

🇸🇦 حساس

🇨🇿 citlivý

🇸🇰 citlivý

🇨🇳 娇气

🇸🇮 občutljiv

🇮🇸 viðkvæmur

🇰🇿 сезімтал

🇬🇪 მგრძნობიარე

🇦🇿 həssas

🇲🇽 delicado

Etymology

The word 'squeamish' originated in the late 16th century from the Middle English word 'squemissh', which meant 'fastidious, scrupulous'. It is derived from the Old French word 'esquimeux', meaning 'disgusted', which itself comes from the Latin 'eximo', meaning 'remove or take away'. Over time, the meaning of 'squeamish' has evolved to include both physical and emotional sensitivity.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,983, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.