Dionysian

[ dahy-uh-nish-uhn, -nis-ee-uhn, -nahy-see- ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or honoring Dionysus or Bacchus.
2. recklessly uninhibited; unrestrained; undisciplined; frenzied; orgiastic.

Dionysian

/ ˌdaɪəˈnɪzɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Dionysus
2. sometimes not capital (in the philosophy of Nietzsche) of or relating to the set of creative qualities that encompasses spontaneity, irrationality, the rejection of discipline, etc
3. often not capital wild or orgiastic
4. of or relating to any of the historical characters named Dionysius

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dionysian¹

First recorded in 1600–10; Dionys(us) + -ian

Example Sentences

It was clear to me that at least at the end of his life the Dionysian streak was trying to get out.

From The Daily Beast

He changed back to his Dionysian form, circling warily until Mars had followed suit.

From Project Gutenberg

I am thus brought face to face with the eternal conflict in art between the Apollonian and the Dionysian principles.

From Project Gutenberg

Book of Mormon chronology therefore sustains in general the correctness of the common or Dionysian system.

From Project Gutenberg

The evening was so very young that they felt ridiculous with surplus energy, and burst into the cafe like Dionysian revellers.

From Project Gutenberg

There is a Dionysian strain in his music that too often is in jarring discord with the intellectual structure of his work.

From Project Gutenberg