squeamish

adjective

squea·​mish ˈskwē-mish How to pronounce squeamish (audio)
1
a
: easily nauseated : queasy
b
: affected with nausea
2
a
: excessively fastidious or scrupulous in conduct or belief
b
: easily offended or disgusted
squeamishly adverb
squeamishness noun

Examples of squeamish in a Sentence

I used to be squeamish about eating raw fish. I'm too squeamish to watch horror movies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a report out Friday, Colas reported anecdotes of squeamish investors as a result of President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff policy, on top of worries around the health of the broad economy. Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2025 Private onsens are particularly sought after by international tourists because communal onsens require visitors to enjoy their dip fully naked - a custom many foreign travelers aren’t familiar with, or feel squeamish about. Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025 And gone were the guardrails from squeamish studios. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2025 Exactly five years ago, the world united in squeamish horror against the dozen famous people who decided that the best way to deal with the rapidly worsening pandemic was to sing a John Lennon song on Instagram. Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for squeamish

Word History

Etymology

Middle English squaymisch, modification of Anglo-French escoymous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of squeamish was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Squeamish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squeamish. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

squeamish

adjective
squea·​mish ˈskwē-mish How to pronounce squeamish (audio)
1
a
: easily made sick : queasy
b
: affected with nausea : nauseated
2
: easily shocked or disgusted
squeamishly adverb
squeamishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on squeamish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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