inebriate

[in-ee-bree-eyt, in-ee-bree-it]

verb (used with object)

inebriated, inebriating 

1. to make drunk; intoxicate.

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

noun

1. an intoxicated person.

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

adjective

1. Rare.,  inebriated.

inebriate

/ ˌɪnɪˈbraɪɪtɪ /

verb

1. to make drunk; intoxicate

2. to arouse emotionally; make excited

noun

1. a person who is drunk, esp habitually

adjective

1. drunk, esp habitually

Other Word Forms

• inebriation noun
• uninebriating adjective
• inebriety noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inebriate¹

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; in- ², -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of inebriate¹

C15: from Latin inēbriāre, from _in- ² + ēbriāre to intoxicate, from ēbrius drunk

Synonym Study

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 .

Example Sentences

I think after the weird moment when he was half asleep, half inebriated in Mexico that I wrote him off.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Senator Bernie Sanders, one of Platner's most prominent supporters, defended him on Tuesday, saying the tattoo was chosen while he was inebriated.

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It generates nearly $100 billion in free cash flow each year and, unlike its megacap tech peers, isn’t spending like an inebriated sailor on artificial intelligence.

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Specktor was forced to get his mom, inebriated and sometimes unconscious, to her room safely.

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While some believed that King had been drinking, no one told The Times that King appeared seriously inebriated.

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Related Words

• intoxicate 
• make drunk www.thesaurus.com