Dictionary

sicken en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈsɪkən/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English sekenen, equivalent to sick + -en. Cognate with Danish sygne (“to pine”), Swedish sjukna (“to fall ill; become sick”), Norwegian sykne, Icelandic sjúkna (“to sicken; become sick”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To make ill.
   • Donald Trump’s former top food safety official has accused the administration of a near “catastrophic” mismanagement of the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people in the US. 2026 July 25, Oliver Milman, “Former FDA official says US handling of cyclospora near ‘catastrophic level’”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Jul 2026:
   • The infection will sicken him until amputation is needed.
2. (intransitive) To become ill.
   • I will sicken if I don’t get some more exercise.
   • The judges that sat upon the jail, and numbers of those that attended,[…] sickened upon it and died. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
3. (transitive) To fill with disgust or abhorrence.
   • His arrogant behaviour sickens me.
   • In announcing the review, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, said in a statement that “antisemitism — like racism — is a spiritual and moral malady that sickens societies and kills people with lethalities comparable to history’s most deadly plagues.” 2025 March 4, Sharon Otterman, “Trump Threatens Columbia With Millions in Cuts Over Antisemitism Claims”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 12 Mar 2025:
4. To lower the standing of.
   • Whenever I get booed by opposition fans it only makes me more determined to sicken them. 2007, Euan Reedie, Alan Shearer: Portrait Of A Legend - Captain Fantastic, →ISBN:
   • City took control, pinning a tiring Celtic back and threatening to sicken them with a winner. 2016 September 28, Tom English, “Celtic 3–3 Manchester City”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 23 May 2017:
   • But instead of giving up, the Rangers team managed to grab a dramatic later winner from Kenny Miller to sicken St Mirren and lift the cup 2011, Scott Burns, Walter Smith the Ibrox Gaffer: A Tribute to a Rangers Legend, →ISBN:
5. (intransitive) To be filled with disgust or abhorrence.
   • Mine eyes did sicken at the sight. 1607, William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra:
6. (intransitive) To become disgusting or tedious.
   • The toiling pleasure sickens into pain. 1770, Oliver Goldsmith, The Deserted Village:
7. (intransitive) To become weak; to decay; to languish.
   • All pleasures sicken, and all glories sink. 1734, Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man:

Forms

Deriveds

unsicken · sickener · sickened · sickening

Translations (16)

it ammalare (to make ill) · ar أَمْرَضَ (to make ill) · ota خسته ایتمك (to make ill) · vo malädükön (to make ill) · cho abekʋchi (to make ill) · ja 病ませる (to make ill) · io maladigar (to make ill) · bg разболявам (to make ill) · fr rendre malade (to make ill) · tr hasta etmek (to make ill) · eo malsanigi (to make ill) · gl enfermar (to make ill) · gl afervoar (to make ill) · nl ziek maken (to make ill) · nl misselijk maken (to make ill) · he החליא (to make ill)