nausea

[ naw-zee-uh, -zhuh, -see-uh, -shuh ]

noun

1. a feeling of sickness in the stomach, especially when accompanied by a loathing for food and an involuntary impulse to vomit.
2. extreme disgust; loathing; repugnance.

nausea

/ -sɪə; ˈnɔːzɪə /

noun

1. the sensation that precedes vomiting
2. a feeling of disgust or revulsion

nausea

/ nô′zē-ə,-zhə /

1. A symptom characterized by gastrointestinal distress and an urge to vomit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nausea¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin nausea, nausia, from unattested Greek nausíā (Ionic nausíē ) “seasickness,” derivative of naûs “ship”; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of nausea¹

C16: via Latin from Greek: seasickness, from naus ship

Example Sentences

Although uncommon, bananaphobia can be triggered by seeing or smelling the fruit and can cause serious symptoms like anxiety and nausea.

From BBC

The vast majority of pregnant women who report using cannabis say they do so to manage pregnancy symptoms like pain or nausea.

From Salon

“We had no elevator, and I was little to no help as I had just found out I was pregnant and the first trimester nausea had hit bad,” Materna recalled.

From Salon

I’m glad to hear you’re optimistic, even if it does come with nausea.

From Los Angeles Times

Adriana's latest climb wasn’t without its challenges, after she and her team temporarily lost the guide rope they were using, and she battled nausea on the final ascent.

From BBC

Related Words

• airsickness
• biliousness
• car sickness
• mal de mer
• motion sickness
• nauseousness
• qualms
• queasiness
• regurgitation
• retching
• seasickness
• sickness
• squeamishness
• vomiting

More About Nausea

What does nausea mean?

Nausea is a feeling of sickness in your stomach, as if you might vomit.

People can experience nausea from food that has upset their stomach, from the side effects of medications, or from a number of other conditions that affect the stomach, such as seasickness, motion sickness, morning sickness, carsickness, and anxiety.

To have nausea is to feel nauseous or nauseated. To nauseate is to cause nausea. Things that cause nausea can be described as nauseating (or, less commonly, nauseous).

The word nausea can also be used in a figurative way meaning a feeling of disgust, revulsion, or repulsion, as in I felt a sense of nausea wash over me when witnessing their cruelty.  

Example: If you feel nausea coming on, try lying down and breathing through your nose.

Where does nausea come from?

The first records of the word nausea come from the 1500s. It is thought to derive from the Greek nausíā, meaning “seasickness,” from naûs, meaning “ship” (the same root is the basis of the word nautical).

Nausea makes you feel like you might throw up, but it doesn’t always end in throwing up. It’s a terrible feeling and it can be caused by very different things, including bad food, inner ear problems, and stress.

The figurative sense of nausea is not that commonly used. When someone experiences this kind of nausea, it’s more common to describe them as nauseated or to describe the thing that’s causing the figurative nausea as nauseating.

Notably, Nausea is the title of a 1938 existentialist novel by Jean-Paul Sartre whose main character experiences literal, figurative, and metaphorical nausea.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to nausea?

• nauseous (adjective)
• nauseate (verb)
• nauseated (past tense verb, adjective)
• nauseating (continuous tense verb, adjective)
• nauseant (adjective, noun)

What are some synonyms for nausea?

• queasiness
• disgust
• revulsion
• repulsion

What are some words that share a root or word element with nausea?

• nautical

What are some words that often get used in discussing nausea?

• sick to one’s stomach
• queasy
• feel
• sick
• stomach
• vomit
• throw up
• motion sickness
• seasickness
• morning sickness
• carsick
• anxiety
• eat
• food

How is nausea used in real life?

The word nausea is most commonly used in a literal sense in the context of someone who feels like they might vomit.

Nausea is a common side effect of cancer treatment. Learn how to help prevent nausea and share what has worked for you on #MayoClinicConnect. https://t.co/WDLB9hwqv5 pic.twitter.com/p7F1NvI4Tc

— Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) January 26, 2019

How to prevent nausea when cycling | https://t.co/LX7Wb2dpgS pic.twitter.com/yB1ArJhLpV

— BikeRadar (@bikeradar) October 16, 2016

I'm usually all about romance and couples, but today they've just been a source of nausea and disgust.

— K (@Awe808) October 17, 2016

 

 

Try using nausea!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of the figurative sense of nausea?

A. disgust
B. repulsion
C. revulsion
D. all of the above