inebriate

American  

[in-ee-bree-eyt, in-ee-bree-it] / ɪnˈi briˌeɪt, ɪnˈi bri ɪt /

verb (used with object)

inebriated, inebriating

1. to make drunk; intoxicate.

2. to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.

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noun

1. an intoxicated person.

2. a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated.

adjective

1. Rare. inebriated.

inebriate British  

/ ˌɪnɪˈbraɪɪtɪ /

verb

1. to make drunk; intoxicate

2. to arouse emotionally; make excited

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noun

1. a person who is drunk, esp habitually

adjective

1. drunk, esp habitually

Related Words

Inebriate and drunkard are terms for a person who drinks heavily or drinks hard liquors habitually. Drunkard is a judgmental label that connotes willful indulgence to excess. Inebriate is a formal term that sounds more factual or neutral than the stigmatizing label drunkard. Dipsomaniac is a rare, older term for a person who, because of some psychological or physiological illness, has an irresistible craving for liquor. Today, the dipsomaniac is more commonly called an alcoholic —another label that is judgmental and sometimes offensive. Rather than using either of those labels, it is more sensitive and accurate to describe such an individual as a person with alcohol use disorder, or a person who has alcoholism .

Other Word Forms

• inebriation
  noun
• inebriety
  noun
• uninebriating
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of inebriate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin inēbriātus, past participle of inēbriāre “to make drunk,” equivalent to in- intensive prefix + ēbri(us) “drunk” + -ātus past participle suffix; see in- ², -ate ¹

Explanation

If a party host wants to inebriate her guests, she'll serve them many alcoholic drinks. In other words, she'll try to get them drunk. Use the verb inebriate to describe what happens when someone or something intoxicates a person. If you realize that your lemonade is inebriating you, you probably accidentally ordered an alcoholic drink that tastes like lemonade. You can also use inebriate to describe something that's beautiful or thrilling: "There is nothing like watching the sun rise over the mountains to inebriate me." The Latin root, inebriatus, simply means "to make drunk."

Example Sentences

There is one Woman Inspector of Prisons, a qualified medical woman, who acts also as Assistant Inspector of State and Certified Inebriate Reformatories.

From Women Workers in Seven Professions by Morley, Edith J.

That hearken'd to Lorenzo and now reel Inebriate with the exuberance Of his verbosity?

From Seven Men by Beerbohm, Max, Sir

"He has an Inebriate Asylum in view, mother, and wants to engage you for physician, and your daughter for matron."

From Three People by Pansy

Therefore, in this and in the other female Inebriate Homes no meat is served.

From Regeneration by Haggard, Henry Rider

The result of this view was the establishment of Inebriate Asylums for voluntary or enforced seclusion, first in the United States, and afterwards in England and some of her dependencies.

From Grappling with the Monster The Curse and the Cure of Strong Drink by Arthur, T. S. (Timothy Shay)

Related Words

• intoxicate
• make drunk