INEBRIATE Definition & Meaning

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inebriate

[ verb in-ee-bree-eyt; noun adjective in-ee-bree-it ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

inebriated, inebriating.

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

Rare. inebriated ( def 1 ).

inebriate

/ ˌɪ��ɪˈ��ɪɪ��ɪ /

verb

to make drunk; intoxicate
to arouse emotionally; make excited

noun

a person who is drunk, esp habitually

adjective

drunk, esp habitually

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Derived Forms

inebriety, noun
��ˌ��ˈ��پ��ǲ�, noun

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

��·��·��·��·�پ��ǲ� noun
�ܲ�·��·��·��·��·��Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of inebriate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin ��ŧ��ٳܲ�, past participle of ��ŧ�� “to make drunk,” equivalent to in- intensive prefix + ŧ��(�ܲ�) “drunk” + -��ٳܲ� past participle suffix; in- ², -ate ¹

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of inebriate¹

C15: from Latin ��ŧ��, from in- ² + ŧ�� to intoxicate, from ŧ��ܲ� drunk

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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 .

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

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

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In the hours after the shooting, seized by guilt and self-loathing, an inebriated Ferguson wished aloud for the death penalty, demanded to be punched in the face and predicted that he would burn in hell.

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Investigators said she pushed him across the border into Mexico in a wheelchair due to his inebriated state.

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The inebriated woman was confronted by a second woman, who told her to leave, the deputy said.

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When late night sittings were more common, it would be packed with increasingly inebriated MPs and party whips, trying to keep them in line.

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