sick
sick
Pronunciation
/sɪk/
Syllable Breakdown:
/sɪ/:
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/ɪ/ - short front unrounded vowel
/k/:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
Word Form Variations
Comparative: sicker
Superlative: sickest
Note: While "sick" can sometimes be used as a noun (e.g., "the sick"), it doesn't have a distinct plural form in that usage.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
1. Adjective
Definition: 1. Affected by an illness or disease; not healthy.
Synonyms: ill, unwell, diseased, ailing, infirm, indisposed, unhealthy, feverish, nauseous, queasy
Antonyms: healthy, well, fit, robust, strong, vigorous, hale, hearty
Definition: 2. Feeling nausea or vomiting.
Synonyms: nauseated, queasy, sick to one's stomach, green around the gills, carsick, seasick
Antonyms: healthy, well, fit, robust, strong, vigorous, hale, hearty
Definition: 3. Extremely unpleasant or distasteful.
Synonyms: disgusting, repulsive, revolting, abhorrent, offensive, vile, nasty, gross, distasteful, objectionable
Antonyms: pleasant, agreeable, enjoyable, delightful, appealing, attractive, charming
Definition: 4. (Informal) Extremely good or impressive.
Synonyms: awesome, amazing, fantastic, brilliant, superb, wonderful, terrific, extraordinary, phenomenal
Antonyms: bad, awful, terrible, poor, mediocre, inferior, substandard
2. Verb
Definition: To vomit or feel nauseous.
Synonyms: vomit, throw up, be sick, spew, retch, regurgitate
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as "to be sick" is a state of being)
3. Noun
Definition: (Informal) An illness or disease.
Synonyms: ailment, complaint, disorder, malady, affliction, sickness
Antonyms: health, wellness, well-being
Examples of Use
Books:
"The sick rose" by William Blake: This famous poem uses "sick" to describe a rose afflicted by a worm, symbolizing the corruption of innocence. (Source: Songs of Experience)
"The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne: The novel depicts the social and emotional sickness that afflicts the protagonist, Hester Prynne, and the Puritan society she lives in. (Source: The Scarlet Letter)
Newspapers:
"Outbreak of a mysterious sickness sweeps through the city" (Headline from a fictional newspaper): This headline uses "sickness" to refer to an unknown illness affecting a large number of people.
"Report: Rising rates of childhood obesity are making children sick" (Excerpt from a ‘health article’): This article uses "sick" to describe the negative health consequences of childhood obesity.
Online Publications:
"10 Signs You Might Be Sick of Your Job" (Article title from a career website): This article uses "sick" to describe a state of dissatisfaction and burnout related to one's employment.
"This New Sneaker Design is Sick!" (Comment on a social media post): This informal use of "sick" expresses strong approval and admiration for the sneaker design.
Entertainment:
"That guitar solo was sick!" (A rock music fan's reaction): This use of "sick" conveys excitement and enthusiasm for a particularly impressive musical performance.
"The villain in the movie was so sick!" (Discussion among friends): This use of "sick" describes the villain as being exceptionally evil or menacing in a thrilling way.
General Public Discourse:
"I feel sick to my stomach after eating that bad seafood." (Casual conversation): This everyday use of "sick" describes a feeling of nausea.
"The smell of that garbage is making me sick." (Everyday complaint): This use of "sick" expresses strong dislike and disgust for an unpleasant odor.
10 Famous Quotes Using Sick
"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane because it often results in physical death. People are literally sick and dying." — Martin Luther King Jr.
"The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it. They’re either late or sick of waiting." — Franklin P. Jones
"A sick thought can devour the body’s flesh more than fever or consumption." — Guy de Maupassant
"I am sick of this world, this life. I am sick of eating and drinking. Why should I prolong a life which is a burden to me?" — Leonardo da Vinci
"Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life — or you’ll find yourself sick with success." — Unknown (modern motivational quote)
"We are sick with fascination for the useful tools of names and numbers, of symbols, signs, conceptions and ideas." — Marshall McLuhan
"The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected. Even when the world is sick, both parties insist it is healthy." — G.K. Chesterton
"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow. Without it, the soul gets sick." — Orison Swett Marden
"In a sick society, no one is truly healthy." — Nina Simone
"I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect." — J.D. Salinger, Franny and Zooey
Etymology
The word "sick" has its roots way back in the Old English language, which was spoken in England many centuries ago. In Old English, the word was spelled "sēoc" and simply meant "ill" or "unhealthy."
Think of it like this: Imagine a time long ago when people didn't understand germs or how diseases spread. If someone wasn't feeling well, they would simply say they were "sēoc."
Over time, the English language changed, and so did the spelling of the word. Eventually, "sēoc" evolved into the "sick" we use today.
So, the next time you feel under the weather and say you're "sick," remember that you're using a word with a very long history!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Sick
"Sick and tired of..." (This is a very common phrase! It means extremely annoyed or frustrated with something.)
"To be sick of one's stomach" (This directly refers to feeling nauseous.)
"To be deathly sick" (This emphasizes the severity of the illness.)
Phrases with similar meaning (using synonyms):
"Weary of..." (Similar to "sick and tired of...")
"To feel under the weather" (A more general way to say you're not feeling well.)
"To be green around the gills" (Another way to describe feeling nauseous.)
Original Phrases (with a playful tone):
"To be sicker than a dog" (Emphasizing how unwell someone feels)
"To have a case of the sicks" (A lighthearted way to say you're not feeling well)
Why fewer idioms with "sick":
Direct Meaning: "Sick" primarily refers to illness. This direct meaning might limit its use in figurative or metaphorical ways.
Informal Use: "Sick" often has informal or slang uses (like "that's sick!" meaning "that's cool!"), which might not lend themselves to formal idioms.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of sick from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
