Nauseous versus nauseated
Which sentences are correct?
- The sight of food makes me nauseous.
- The sight of food nauseates me.
- The stew was a nauseous brown goo.
- The stew was a nauseating brown goo.
- I’m nauseous.
- I’m nauseated.
The correct sentences are B, C, D, and F. Sentences A and E, while technically correct, are ambiguous.
Why?
The traditional meaning of the term nauseous is “causing nausea” or “nauseating.” And that definition still appears first in the dictionary.
Considering the dual meanings of the term, “I’m nauseous” easily could be interpreted as “I’m causing nausea” instead of “I’m feeling nauseated.”
The term nauseated unequivocally means “affected with nausea.”
For example, which sentence is the correct response to the question, “How was the stew?”
- It was nauseous.
- It was nauseated.
The correct sentence is G. Nauseated doesn’t work. But nauseous does.
To leave no room for doubt in the mind of the listener or the reader, my advice is to stick with nauseated when describing the way that you feel. Or . . . use nauseous, bearing in mind that the response you receive may be a chuckle rather than sympathy.
