sicken

Everyday

1. To make someone feel shocked, disgusted or very upset, as if they might be sick. tree →
2. To start to become ill. tree →
3. «Sicken of» something (old-fashioned) — to become tired of it. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and news «it sickens me» shows strong disgust at cruelty or unfairness; «sickening» describes a horrible crash, sound or smell. Older stories say an animal or child «began to sicken» before falling ill. In everyday talk «a sickening goal» means a very disappointing one for the losing team.

Examples

• The cruelty to the dog sickened everyone who saw it. tree →
• The calf began to sicken and would not eat. tree →
• It sickens me when people drop litter in the park. tree →
• There was a sickening crash as the car hit the wall. tree →
• The smell of rotten eggs sickened us. tree →
• After a week of rain, we sickened of staying indoors. tree →
• We lost to a sickening goal in the last minute. tree →
• The sickening smell made him faint. tree →

Note

Regular verb. Adjective «sickening» (very unpleasant). It is stronger than «annoy». Not the same as «to be sick» (to vomit) or «to feel sick».