Ick
noun /ɪk/ — A sudden, overwhelming feeling of disgust ending attraction
Definition
The sudden sensation of physical or emotional disgust toward someone you were previously attracted to — triggered by a specific behaviour or observation. The ick is typically small and irrational, but once felt, cannot be unfelt.
Beyond the definition
The ick is attraction's extinction event. The specific cruelty of the ick is its disproportionality — a small thing (an awkward wave, a particular laugh) can end feelings that took months to build. The ick does not negotiate.
Origin & history
English: from the interjection 'ick' expressing disgust. Became a specific dating term on TikTok and social media, particularly in the early 2020s. 'Getting the ick' means the end of attraction.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
He was perfect until I saw him jog to catch a bus. The ick arrived and never left.
The ick is irrational and I know it. But I cannot unknow what I saw.
She's been trying to shake the ick for weeks. It's not going anywhere.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Ick” when the meaning fits your context: The sudden sensation of physical or emotional disgust toward someone you were previously attracted to — triggered by a specific behaviour or observation. The ick is typically small and irrational, but once felt, cannot be unfelt.
Synonyms
disgust, turn-off, repulsion, cringe
Antonyms
Related words
Ick vs disgust
Disgust is a broad, visceral reaction. An 'ick' is specifically that tiny, sudden turn-off that kills your romantic interest in someone entirely.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Disconnected in Modern Office
An adult stands in a busy, modern office, feeling entirely disconnected and confused, as if they don't share the same reality as colleagues.
The individual is experiencing the ick. The sudden, irrational sensation of physical and emotional disgust toward their environment and colleagues is a feeling that, once felt, cannot be unfelt, highlighting the fragility of a connection that is broken by a small, jarring observation.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Ick" mean?
Ick is noun meaning: A sudden, overwhelming feeling of disgust ending attraction. The sudden sensation of physical or emotional disgust toward someone you were previously attracted to — triggered by a specific behaviour or observation. The ick is typically small and irrational, but once felt, cannot be unfelt.
Where does the word "Ick" come from?
English: from the interjection 'ick' expressing disgust. Became a specific dating term on TikTok and social media, particularly in the early 2020s. 'Getting the ick' means the end of attraction.