inebriated

adjective

in·​ebri·​at·​ed i-ˈnē-brē-ˌā-təd How to pronounce inebriated (audio)
Synonyms of inebriatednext
: exhilarated or confused by or as if by alcohol : intoxicated

Examples of inebriated in a Sentence

Three cowboys, complete with hats and six-shooters, were downing beer and blasting away at empty cans and an old television set.  … Their voices—and their aim—made it clear they were totally inebriated. Warren Faidley, Storm Chaser, 1996
The creamery manager, it seems, staggered to his car, but was too inebriated to even start the engine … Edna O'Brien, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 1989
Monty Python's Terry Jones—a medieval scholar as well as an accomplished lunatic—springs from the tradition of Andersen and the brothers Grimm like a slightly inebriated chameleon, adding new color and his own whacky humor to the classic style and form of the fairy tale. Carol Van Strum, New York Times Book Review, 16 Jan. 1983
He was clearly inebriated when he left the bar. after a night spent partying, the fraternity brothers were all severely inebriated
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But instead of paving the way for some good ol’ fashioned infidelity, the liquid courage causes the women to turn on each other, with the evening devolving into inebriated insults and recriminations. Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 The annual SantaCon bar crawl that floods New York City with inebriated young people in Santa suits every holiday season was run by a real-life Grinch, according to federal prosecutors. Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 The aftermath of Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest continues to unfold, as many are concerned about the 15-time major winner, while also condemning using a motor vehicle in an inebriated state. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026 The champagne party sequence and the finale are especially thrilling, as the director uses unsteady cameras and wobbly focus to visualize an inebriated, shaky point of view. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inebriated

Word History

Etymology

see inebriate entry 2

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inebriated was in 1609

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inebriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inebriated. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

inebriated

adjective
ine·​bri·​at·​ed
in-ˈē-brē-ˌāt-əd
: affected by or as if by alcohol : being intoxicated
inebriation
-ˌē-brē-ˈā-shən
noun

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