inebriate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make drunk; intoxicate.
-
to exhilarate, confuse, or stupefy mentally or emotionally.
noun
-
an intoxicated person.
-
a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated.
adjective
verb
-
to make drunk; intoxicate
-
to arouse emotionally; make excited
noun
adjective
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
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."
Vocabulary lists containing inebriate
Novel Study: Animal Farm, Chapters 5–10
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Killing Lincoln
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Stories of Ourselves
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
United Architects entered a widely seen proposal in the competition, an ensemble of five slightly inebriate towers.
From Time Magazine Archive
United Architects entered a widely seen proposal in the competition, an ensemble of five slightly inebriate towers.
From Time Magazine Archive
She was an earthly personification of Emily Dickinson's inebriate of air and debauchee of dew, stoned on life and art.
From Time Magazine Archive
What to drink that won't inebriate Put on weight or contain cyclamate.
From Time Magazine Archive
It is the cup that cheers and does not inebriate.
From Old Plymouth Trails by Packard, Winthrop
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
