sick
24 synonyms and 0 antonyms for sick, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Unwell; suffering from an illness.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use sick
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
The "excellent" sense is casual slang — avoid it in formal writing.
Etymology
From Old English seoc ("ill"), from a Germanic root meaning to be troubled or afflicted. The slang sense meaning "excellent" is a much later flip, similar to how "wicked" and "terrific" also came to mean something positive.
Full origin of sick →Frequently asked questions
What does “sick” mean?
The word “sick” means unwell; suffering from an illness. In plain terms, ill, or, informally, so impressive it's amazing.
How do you pronounce “sick”?
“Sick” is pronounced SIHK (/ˈsɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sick” in a sentence?
Here is “sick” used in a sentence: “He stayed home from school because he felt sick.”
What part of speech is “sick”?
Depending on how it is used, “sick” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “sick” come from?
The word “sick” comes from Old English.
Is “sick” a common word?
“Sick” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “sick” have?
“Sick” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unwell; suffering from an illness.
What is the difference between sick and ill?
They overlap and are often interchangeable. In American English, 'sick' is the everyday word for being unwell. In British English, 'ill' usually means generally unwell, while 'sick' often specifically means nauseous or about to vomit. 'Ill' also sounds slightly more formal, so 'seriously ill' is more common than 'seriously sick' in careful writing.
Does 'sick' mean vomiting?
It can, especially in British English, where 'to be sick' commonly means to vomit and 'feeling sick' means nauseous. In American English, 'sick' more often just means unwell in general, and vomiting would be stated directly. Context and region decide: 'I was sick all night' may describe illness or vomiting depending on where it is said.
What does 'sick' mean in slang?
In informal, especially younger, speech, 'sick' is a term of strong approval meaning excellent, impressive, or cool — 'that trick was sick.' It is a positive reversal of the usual meaning, much as 'wicked' can mean great. Tone and context make it clear; no one confuses a 'sick skateboard trick' with illness.
What is the opposite of sick?
The natural opposites are 'well' and 'healthy,' both describing a body free of illness. 'Fine,' 'better,' and 'recovered' also work depending on the situation — 'better' and 'recovered' suggest returning to health after being unwell. Which fits best depends on whether you mean generally healthy or simply no longer sick.