The development of particulate materials is accelerating at a tremendous speed and nanoparticles have gradually gained worldwide attention. Among them, silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles have attracted much attention due to their excellent performance and great application potential. This article mainly presents a comprehensive overview on the synthesis, properties and potential applications of SiC nanoparticles. Firstly, various synthesis techniques for SiC nanoparticles were discussed, with the classification of solid phase, liquid phase and vapor phase processes. Subsequently, the unique properties of SiC nanoparticles such as surface properties, thermal properties, electrical properties and biocompatibility properties were highlighted. Thereafter, diversified applications of SiC nanoparticles including composites, catalysts, fluorescent biological labels, bioadhesives and flexible field emitters have been discussed. Finally, contents of the article were summarized and outlooks of future research were stated.