junkie

noun

junk·​ie ˈjəŋ-kē 

variants or less commonly junky

plural junkies

1

a

disparaging + offensive : a person who is addicted to narcotics and especially to heroin

b

: a person who gets an unusual amount of pleasure from or has an unusual amount of interest in something

a television news junkie

Adrenaline junkies weren't the only ones who marveled as Austrian daredevil Baumgartner broke the world record for the highest and fastest skydive …

—Maura Judkis

2

: a junk dealer

Synonyms of junkie

• addict
• user

Examples of junkie in a Sentence

heroin junkies wasting their lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Also in his orbit are a consortium of crooks, including his cousin Freddie, a hip junkie, and Pepper, a taciturn hoodlum who was friends with Ray’s dad, Big Mike, a legendary thief. — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026

During summer, adrenaline junkies can get their fix on the downhill mountain biking trails and extensive zip line course. — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026

Noah’s Ark is an outdoor park that’s home to more than 80 water rides and slides that attract adrenaline junkies and families (including mine, twice). — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 15 July 2026

GoPro had adventurers and adrenaline junkies in a chokehold in the 2010s. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for junkie

• chunky
• funky
• hunky
• monkey
• spunky

Kids Definition

junkie

noun

junk·​ie

variants also junky

ˈjəŋ-kē 

plural junkies

1

: a person who sells or is addicted to narcotics

2

: a person who gets an unusual amount of pleasure from or is dependent on something

a sugar junkie