emetic
emetic — noun
1. a substance given or taken to empty the stomach by forcing the person to vomit,
a substance given or taken to empty the stomach by forcing the person to vomit, often used in medical treatment for poisoning or before certain surgical procedures
The doctor gave Liam an emetic after he drank the cleaning fluid by mistake.
give + an emetic (medical instruction)
Hassan's grandmother told him that warm salt water could work as a home emetic.
The emergency room keeps several types of emetics ready for cases of accidental poisoning.
- vomit-inducing agent
a descriptive phrase that avoids the technical register of 'emetic'
- purgative
broader term that can also refer to laxatives; less precise
- antiemetic
a drug that stops or prevents vomiting
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'administer' or 'give' in medical contexts. Rare outside clinical or veterinary settings; 'something to make you vomit' is preferred in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
emetic — adjective
1. describes a substance, treatment, or natural agent that makes a person or animal
describes a substance, treatment, or natural agent that makes a person or animal vomit
Some chemotherapy drugs have strong emetic effects that doctors try to control.
emetic + effect: collocation for side effects
The bright red berries of this plant are highly emetic, so keep children away from them.
The pharmacist explained the emetic properties of the medicine to Arjun's mother.
- nausea-inducing
less technical, describes the sensation rather than the outcome
- vomit-provoking
a descriptive alternative that avoids Greek/Latin lexicon
- antiemetic
preventing or stopping vomiting
用法筆記
Primarily a technical term in medicine and pharmacology. In everyday English, 'makes you vomit' or 'sickening' are far more common. Do not use this word when speaking to patients — use 'nausea-causing' instead.
常見錯誤
2. so extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or shocking that it feels almost physically
so extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or shocking that it feels almost physically sickening — used about sights, experiences, behaviour, or language
Pedro found the scenes of animal cruelty so emetic that he left the cinema.
find + something + emetic: pattern for personal reaction
The critic described the film's sentimental voice-over as emetic rather than touching.
Sirin thought the level of flattery in the farewell speech was frankly emetic.
- nauseating
more common in everyday English; shares the 'sickening' metaphor
- revolting
stronger emotional charge, less clinical
- sickening
the most natural everyday synonym for this sense
- pleasant
light antonym for the figurative sense only
用法筆記
Figurative extension of the medical sense. Most often found in literary criticism, film reviews, or formal commentary. Overuse can sound pretentious; 'nauseating' or 'revolting' are more natural alternatives in most situations.