Everyday · Often misused · Body & health
Nauseous: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Nauseous adjective. Causing a feeling of sickness; sickening.
How to say it
NAW-zee-us/ˈnɔːzɪəs/ · American /ˈnɔʃəs/
3 syllables, stressed on the first (NAW).
Nauseous in a sentence
A nauseous smell drifted up from the drains.
The nauseous rolling of the ferry sent half the passengers to the rail.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- nauseating
- sickening
- revolting
- stomach-turning
Careful
Traditionally, something nauseous makes you nauseated. Using it to mean 'feeling sick' is now far more common and most dictionaries accept it, though some style guides still prefer nauseated.
Where nauseous comes from
From Latin nauseosus, from nausea, seasickness.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The _____ rolling of the ferry sent half the passengers to the rail.
- fortuitous
- compendious
- nauseous
Show the answer
nauseous: The nauseous rolling of the ferry sent half the passengers to the rail.