inebriate

noun

in·ebri·ate | \ i-ˈnē-brē-ət

Definition of inebriate

(Entry 1 of 3)

: one who is drunk especially : drunkard

inebriate

verb

in·ebri·ate | \ i-ˈnē-brē-ˌāt

inebriated; inebriating

Definition of inebriate (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to make drunk : intoxicate

2 : to exhilarate or stupefy as if by liquor

inebriate

adjective

in·ebri·ate | \ i-ˈnē-brē-ət

, -ˌāt\

Definition of inebriate (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : affected by alcohol : drunk

2 : addicted to excessive drinking

Other Words from inebriate Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about inebriate

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Synonyms & Antonyms for inebriate

Synonyms: Noun

alcoholic, alkie (or alky) [slang], boozehound, boozer, dipsomaniac, drinker, drunk, drunkard, juicehead [slang], juicer [slang], lush, rummy, soak, soaker, sot, souse, tippler, toper, tosspot

Synonyms: Adjective

besotted, blasted [slang], blind, blitzed [slang], blotto [slang], bombed, boozy, canned [slang], cockeyed, crocked, drunk, drunken, fried, gassed, hammered [slang], high, impaired, inebriated, intoxicated, juiced [slang], lit, lit up, loaded [slang], looped, oiled [slang], pickled, pie-eyed, plastered, potted [slang], ripped [slang], sloshed [slang], smashed [slang], sottish, soused, sozzled, squiffed (or squiffy), stewed, stiff, stinking [slang], stoned, tanked [slang], tiddly [chiefly British], tight, tipsy, wasted [slang], wet, wiped out [slang]

Antonyms: Adjective

sober, straight

Examples of inebriate in a Sentence

Noun

having performed in countless bars and clubs, the stand-up comedian was used to being heckled by inebriates in the back of the house

Adjective

those inebriate sports fans who yell and scream throughout the game

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

One of American drama's most intriguing case studies, Hickey is the hardware salesman who returns to his old tawdry haunt not on one of his periodic benders but on a mission to reform the resident inebriates of their belief in a better tomorrow. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "A revelatory Denzel Washington in 'The Iceman Cometh'," 10 May 2018 The group proposed extending the winter shelter through May, boosting treatment for serial inebriates and reporting all homeless incidents and issues to a single coordinator. — Jeff Mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Long before Petco Park, citizens group foresaw homeless crisis and suggestions went unheeded," 1 Oct. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Maradona launched his middle fingers into the air after Argentina bested Nigeria and was captured on video appearing seriously inebriated in the stands. — Carlos Rodriguez And Amy Guthrie, Fox News, "Maradona to coach soccer club in Mexico's cartel heartland," 10 Sep. 2018 Yet the manufacturers are inebriated with power over Congress. — Ralph Nader, WSJ, "Driverless-Car Legislation Is Unsafe at This Speed," 22 Aug. 2018 According to court documents, Hirsch, who was allegedly inebriated at the time, grabbed Paramount executive Dani Bernfeld, pulled her across a table and onto the floor, and proceeded to choke her. — Rebecca Farley, refinery29.com, "Jameela Jamil Wants To Know: Why Hasn't Emile Hirsch's Conviction Hurt His Career?," 8 June 2018 United Airlines has apologized after receiving complaints that one of their flight attendants appeared to be inebriated during a flight on Thursday. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "United Apologizes After Seemingly 'Drunk or Stoned' Flight Attendant Berates Passengers," 4 May 2018 Good-size portions!) Cocktails are the opposite of those at LoLa 42: swiftly inebriating, composed largely of booze. — Devra First, BostonGlobe.com, "At Mastro’s Ocean Club and LoLa 42 in the Seaport, an escape from the known city," 12 Mar. 2018 Security camera footage documented how Piazza became visibly inebriated early in the evening, after which fraternity members made ineffective and even counterproductive efforts to help him. — Washington Post, "Grand jury: Penn State showed ‘shocking apathy’ to drinking," 15 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Segovia was booked into the inebriate center detention facility at the Dallas City Marshal's office on Chestnut Street. — Maria Elena Vizcaino, Dallas News, "Dallas police investigating death of 45-year-old man found unresponsive a week earlier," 8 July 2019 His slightly inebriate charm has become a consistent moviegoing pleasure. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "The men, and some women, are back in black," 12 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inebriate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.