nauseate
C1formal, academic, medical
Definition
Meaning
to cause someone to feel sick or queasy, especially to the point of vomiting.
To cause strong feelings of disgust, revulsion, or extreme dislike in someone; to sicken someone morally or emotionally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb primarily indicates causing the sensation of nausea. It is transitive (needs an object) and typically describes an effect on a person. Not commonly used reflexively ('I nauseate myself' is very rare and stilted). Often found in passive constructions ('I was nauseated by the smell').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal lexical difference. The adjective/noun form 'nauseous' is more contentious: in strict formal AmE, 'nauseous' means causing nausea, while 'nauseated' means feeling nausea. In BrE and increasingly in AmE, 'nauseous' is commonly used to mean feeling sick. This distinction is less rigidly observed for the verb 'nauseate'.
Connotations
Slightly more clinical/formal in both varieties. No significant difference in connotation.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties. The concept is more commonly expressed with phrases like 'make (someone) sick' or 'turn (someone)'s stomach' in informal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Somebody/Something] nauseates [Somebody].[Somebody] is nauseated by [Something].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Something] is enough to make you gag/vomit (more informal equivalent).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The company's unethical practices nauseate potential investors.'
Academic
Used in medical, biological, or psychological texts describing physical reactions, or in humanities to describe moral/emotional revulsion.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech. More likely in descriptions of strong physical or emotional reactions: 'The thought of eating that nauseates me.'
Technical
Standard in medical contexts to describe a symptom or side effect: 'The chemotherapy drug may nauseate the patient.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lingering smell of stale fish nauseated her.
- Such blatant hypocrisy nauseates me.
American English
- The roller coaster ride nauseated him for hours.
- The political attack ads nauseate the electorate.
adverb
British English
- The food was nauseatingly rich.
- He smiled nauseatingly at his superiors.
American English
- The movie was nauseatingly sentimental.
- She laughed nauseatingly at her own joke.
adjective
British English
- She felt nauseous after the boat trip. (Common BrE usage for 'feeling sick')
- The nauseating stench filled the room.
American English
- He was nauseated by the graphic images. (Formal preference)
- The nauseating violence was criticised.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad milk smell nauseated him.
- I feel nauseated when I travel by coach.
- The graphic descriptions in the report nauseated the committee members.
- She finds the concept of animal cruelty utterly nauseating.
- The politician's venal corruption nauseates anyone with a moral compass.
- A side effect of the medication is that it may nauseate a small percentage of users.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of NAUSEATE as NAUSE(A) + -ATE (to make). It means 'to MAKE NAUSEA'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST/REVULSION IS A PHYSICAL SICKNESS (e.g., 'That idea makes me sick', 'I'm sick of your lies').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'тошнить' (to feel nausea). 'Nauseate' is transitive and causative: it is what the SMELL does to the PERSON. The Russian reflexive construction 'меня тошнит от...' corresponds to the English passive 'I am nauseated by...'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nauseate' intransitively (e.g., 'I nauseate' - incorrect). Confusing 'nauseate' (verb) with 'nauseous' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'nauseate' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, 'nauseous' means causing nausea, and 'nauseated' means feeling nausea. However, in modern common usage, especially in British English, 'nauseous' is widely used to mean feeling sick. 'Nauseate' is the verb meaning to cause that feeling.
It is not a high-frequency, everyday word. It belongs to a more formal or descriptive register. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say 'make (me) sick' or 'turn my stomach'.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically to mean causing strong disgust or revulsion, not just physical sickness (e.g., 'His arrogance nauseates me').
It is most often used in the pattern: [Something] nauseates [Someone]. The passive voice is also very common: [Someone] is/was nauseated by [Something].