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
- 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; in- 2, -ate 1
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.
“We all walked with her. She was perfectly OK. Not inebriated at all,” Merksamer says.
From Los Angeles Times
While he testified that Depp became increasingly inebriated, he said he witnessed an argument between the couple, and Depp “was kind of cowering and seemed almost afraid,” which was “odd to see.”
From Washington Post
He said when Depp was inebriated, he would also “insult his fans” and call them “remoras,” also known as suckerfish.
From Washington Post
I was overcome by exhilarating, almost inebriating, episodes of gratitude overload brought on by an appreciation of small pleasures.
From Washington Post
Mr. Kelly was “inebriated and behaved inappropriately towards some women and men,” according to a statement from Mr. Kelly’s representative, provided to The New York Times before his resignation.
From New York Times
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.
