“I felt nauseous after the rollercoaster.”
Usage Entry 1418 / 1605 60-second read
Nauseous vs. Nauseated
Causing nausea (strict) versus feeling nausea (strict).
The comparisoni
“I felt nauseated after the rollercoaster — strictly, NAUSEOUS = causing nausea (the smell was nauseous). NAUSEATED = feeling sick. Modern dictionaries accept "nauseous" for the feeling.”
The ruleii
¶
NAUSEOUS = caused. NAUSEATED = felt.
Strict prescriptive split: NAUSEOUS = inducing nausea; NAUSEATED = experiencing it. Modern usage has collapsed the distinction: dictionaries now accept "I feel nauseous." Most editors no longer flag it; pedants still do.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Disgusting smell = nauseous. Sick stomach = nauseated.