nauseous

From Latin nauseōsus (“causing nausea”), corresponding synchronically to nausea +‎ -ous.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈnɔːziːəs/, /ˈnɔːsiːəs/

  • Audio (Southern England):

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  • Audio (Southern England):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈnɔːʃəs/, /ˈnɔːʒəs/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈnɑːʃəs/, /ˈnɑːʒəs/

nauseous (comparative more nauseous, superlative most nauseous)

1. Causing nausea; sickening or disgusting. [from 17th c.]
   • 1720, Jonathan Swift, To Stella, visiting me in my sickness:

     […] And flattery tipt with nauseous fleer,
     And guilty shame, and servile fear,
     Envy, and cruelty, and pride,
     Will in your tainted heart preside.

   • 1786 June 27, Hester Thrale Piozzi, Thraliana:

     [T]he Italians grossness of Conversation is still very offensive & nauseous, tho' long accustomed to it.

   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, section I:

     And then what proper person can be partial / To all those nauseous epigrams of Martial?

2. (obsolete) Inclined to nausea; sickly, squeamish. [17th c.]
3. (proscribed) Afflicted with nausea; sick. [from 19th c.]
   • 1848, Samuel Hahnemann, The Chronic Diseases, Their Specific Nature and Their Homeopathic Treatment: Antipsoric Remedies, Volume 2:

     After he had scarcely eaten enough, he felt nauseous; but nausea ceased as soon as he stopped eating entirely, …

   • 1878, The North American Journal of Homeopathy, Volume 27:

     […] during stretching the patient felt nauseous …

   • 2010 September 4, Tom Smith, The Guardian:

     Is it a myth that you shouldn't drink alcohol while taking antibiotics? I often do and haven't felt remotely nauseous.

Some state that nauseous should be used as synonymous with nauseating. AHD4 notes that that in common usage, nauseous is synonymous with nauseated.

• nauseating - causing disgust rather than nausea

• nauseated - afflicted with nausea
• queasy