The phrase "were nauseated" is commonly used to describe a feeling of sickness or discomfort. However, there are several synonyms that can be used to convey this same feeling. Some of these synonyms include "felt queasy," "were nauseous," "experienced nausea," "felt sick," "felt ill," and "were unwell." These words can be interchanged with "were nauseated" depending on the context. It is important to note that the word choice should be based on the tone and intention of the sentence, as some synonyms may convey a stronger or weaker sense of discomfort than others.