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Nauseous vs. Nauseated: Causing or Feeling?

Published on January 15, 2024

The Traditional Rule

  • Nauseous = causing nausea in others
  • Nauseated = feeling sick to one’s stomach

The Traditional Usage

Strictly speaking:

Nauseous (causing sickness):

  • “The nauseous fumes made everyone ill.” ✓
  • “The smell was nauseous.” ✓

Nauseated (feeling sick):

  • “I feel nauseated.” ✓
  • “The motion left her nauseated.” ✓

By the traditional rule, saying “I feel nauseous” means “I make others sick”—not what most people intend!

Modern Usage

Language evolves. Today, “nauseous” meaning “feeling sick” is widely accepted and appears in major dictionaries. Most style guides now allow both uses of “nauseous.”

  • “I feel nauseous.” ✓ (accepted in modern usage)
  • “I feel nauseated.” ✓ (always correct)

When Precision Matters

In formal writing or when you want to be unambiguous:

  • Use nauseated when feeling sick
  • Use nauseous when describing something that causes sickness

Memory Trick

  • Nauseous ends in “-ous” like “dangerous” (causes something)
  • Nauseated ends in “-ed” like “frustrated” (experiencing something)

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