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'Nauseous' traditionally describes something that causes nausea; 'nauseated' describes someone who feels sick to their stomach.
Side-by-side comparison
"Nauseous" originally described what causes nausea: "a nauseous smell". In modern usage, it is also widely accepted to describe the feeling of being sick. Both uses are now valid.
The nauseous fumes from the factory forced nearby residents to evacuate the area.
She felt nauseous after eating the undercooked shellfish at the restaurant.
The combination of heat and movement on the boat was nauseous for several passengers.
"Nauseated" is the technically precise form to describe the feeling of being sick or queasy. "I feel nauseated" = I am experiencing nausea. It is preferred in formal or medical contexts.
He was nauseated by the smell of gasoline and had to step outside for fresh air.
Many patients feel nauseated during the first few days of chemotherapy treatment.
She was nauseated by the graphic images and had to leave the room.
Common mistake
Traditional prescriptivism held "nauseous" meant "causing nausea" and "nauseated" meant "feeling nausea." Modern dictionaries accept "I feel nauseous" as standard, though formal and medical writing still prefers "nauseated."
Trick to remember it
- •"Nauseous" ends in -ous like "dangerous" and "poisonous", the suffix for things that cause effects.
- •"Nauseated" ends in -ated like "exhausted" and "irritated", states the subject feels.
Quick rule
- •Does it cause nausea in others? "Nauseous".
- •Does the subject feel nausea? "Nauseated". (Note: "I feel nauseous" is widely accepted in modern English.)
Did you know?
NAUSEA comes from Greek "nausia" (seasickness), from "naus" (ship). The same Greek root gives "nautical," "navy," "navigate," and "astronaut" (literally "star-navigator"). The nauseous/nauseated debate is a classic example of the battle between prescriptive and descriptive English. Merriam-Webster accepted "nauseous = feeling nausea" in 1969, reflecting decades of native speaker usage. The prescriptivist position, that "I feel nauseous" means "I make others sick", has been described as a linguistic "superstition" by some modern linguists.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
After eating bad sushi, she felt completely _____ and had to go lie down.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The fish smell on the bus was absolutely _____ . Everyone looked uncomfortable.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy