nauseous

[ naw-shuhs, -zee-uhs ]

adjective

1. affected with nausea; nauseated:

   to feel nauseous.

2. causing nausea; sickening; nauseating:

   a nauseous smell.

3. disgusting; loathsome:

   a nauseous display of greed.

   Synonyms: repulsive, despicable, detestable, abhorrent, repellent, nasty, revolting

   Antonyms: delightful

nauseous

/ ˈnɔːzɪəs; -sɪ- /

adjective

1. feeling sick
2. causing nausea
3. distasteful to the mind or senses; repulsive

Confusables Note

The two literal senses of nauseous, “affected with nausea” ( to feel nauseous ) and “causing nausea” ( a nauseous smell ), appear in English at almost the same time in the early 17th century, and both senses are in standard use at the present time. Nauseous is more common than nauseated in the sense “affected with nausea,” despite recent objections by those who imagine the sense to be new. In the sense “causing nausea,” either literally or figuratively, nauseating has become more common than nauseous : a nauseating smell.

Derived Forms

• ˈnauseously, adverb
• ˈnauseousness, noun

Other Words From

• nauseous·ly adverb
• nauseous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nauseous¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin nauseōsus; nausea, -ous

Example Sentences

He describes himself as being "nauseously optimistic" about the election and defeating Trump.

From Salon

All five of the new civil cases allege that Mr Combs - or by proxy through his associates - drugged alcoholic beverages at the events that made the plaintiffs dizzy, nauseous and feel outside their bodies.

From BBC

I saw a phrase by Robert Reich that I think captures a certain mood, which is: “I am nauseously optimistic” about the upcoming weeks and the election.

From Salon

The lightest of workouts now makes Hardy feel nauseous – she recalls passing out when her heart rate went up after trying to jump rope.

From BBC

Two weeks later, she said, she was working in searing heat and once again started feeling dizzy and nauseous.

From Los Angeles Times

More About Nauseous

What does nauseous mean?

To be nauseous is to have nausea—to feel sick in your stomach, as if you might vomit. The word nauseated means the same thing.

Nauseous can also mean the same thing as nauseating—causing nausea. However, nauseous is much less commonly used this way (despite the fact that some people insist that it’s the “proper” use of the word).

The word nausea can also be used in a figurative way meaning a feeling of disgust, revulsion, or repulsion, and nauseous can be used to describe things that make people feel this way, meaning about the same thing as disgusting or loathsome. However, the word nauseating is more commonly used in a figurative context, as in Your linguistic pedantry is nauseating. 

Example: If you feel nauseous, try lying down and breathing through your nose.

Where does nauseous come from?

The first records of the word nauseous come from around 1600. 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). The suffix -ous means “full of” and is used to form adjectives.

People can become nauseous from seasickness and many other conditions that affect the stomach, such as motion sickness, morning sickness, carsickness, anxiety, or from the side effects of medications. People often feel nauseous due to something they ate. When you’re nauseous, the very thought of eating can make you even more nauseous.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to nauseous?

• nauseously (adverb)
• nauseousness (noun)
• nausea (noun)

What are some synonyms for nauseous?

• sick to one’s stomach
• queasy
• nauseated (feeling nausea)
• nauseating (causing nausea)
• nauseant (causing nausea)
• disgusted
• disgusting
• loathsome

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

• nauseate
• nautical

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

• feel
• sick
• stomach
• vomit
• throw up
• motion sickness
• seasickness
• morning sickness
• carsick
• anxiety
• eat
• food

How is nauseous used in real life?

Nauseous is most commonly used to describe someone who feels sick to their stomach. It is typically used in the phrases feel nauseous or feeling nauseous. 

I’m soooo nauseous today. I want to eat something but honestly feel like if I ingest anything I’ll vomit. So yay. Maybe I won’t be making that queso today.

— ferg (@katieferg) October 25, 2020

I’m never going to even know if I’m pregnant from morning sickness because I’m nauseous every day!!!!!

— c h l o e (@chloegiessy) July 6, 2020

 

 

Try using nauseous!

Which of the following words can be used as a synonym of nauseous?

A. nauseated
B. nauseating
C. nauseant
D. all of the above