congener
noun
con·ge·ner
ˈkän-jə-nər 
kən-ˈjē-
kən-ˈjē-
1
: a member of the same taxonomic genus as another plant or animal
2
: a person, organism, or thing resembling another in nature or action
the New England private schools and their congeners west of the Alleghenies—
Oliver La Farge
Oliver La Farge3
: a chemical substance related to another
Examples of congener in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some tequilas, which can be clear or light-colored, for instance, can be high in congeners and may lead to worse hangovers.
—Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 20 May 2025
More congeners typically translates to worse hangovers, Dr. Rohsenow said.
—Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 20 May 2025
To reduce a next-day hangover, opt for spirits low in congeners like vodka, rum, or gin, and avoid those with high levels, such as tequila, whiskey, or cognac.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2025
According to research, dark liquors like bourbon and brandy contain higher levels of congeners, or the chemicals produced during the fermentation process that give an alcohol its distinctive taste, smell and color.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024
Pot stills retain more congeners—the compounds that give spirits their character.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Generally speaking, the more congeners an alcohol has, the worse the hangover is likely to be.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024
Still Austin slow proofs their whiskey to better retain the delicate balance between the oak, alcohol and congeners in their whiskey.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Choose light alcohol over darker alcohol, like bourbon, which has more congeners (naturally occurring compounds in alcohol) that may make hangover symptoms worse in some people.1
Have a glass of water between drinks to stay hydrated.
—Yuliya Klochan, Health, 15 June 2024
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 20 May 2025
More congeners typically translates to worse hangovers, Dr. Rohsenow said.
—Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 20 May 2025
To reduce a next-day hangover, opt for spirits low in congeners like vodka, rum, or gin, and avoid those with high levels, such as tequila, whiskey, or cognac.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2025
According to research, dark liquors like bourbon and brandy contain higher levels of congeners, or the chemicals produced during the fermentation process that give an alcohol its distinctive taste, smell and color.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024
Pot stills retain more congeners—the compounds that give spirits their character.
—Emily Price, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Generally speaking, the more congeners an alcohol has, the worse the hangover is likely to be.
—Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024
Still Austin slow proofs their whiskey to better retain the delicate balance between the oak, alcohol and congeners in their whiskey.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024
Choose light alcohol over darker alcohol, like bourbon, which has more congeners (naturally occurring compounds in alcohol) that may make hangover symptoms worse in some people.1
Have a glass of water between drinks to stay hydrated.
—Yuliya Klochan, Health, 15 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Congener.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/congener. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
congener
noun
con·ge·ner
ˈkän-jə-nər
kən-ˈjē-
kən-ˈjē-
variants
also cogener
1
: a member of the same taxonomic genus as another plant or animal
2
: a chemical substance related to another
tetracycline and its congeners
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