inveterate

adjective in·vet·er·ate \ in-ˈve-t(ə-)rət \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

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Examples: inveterate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: The History of inveterate

Definition of inveterate

1 : firmly established by long persistence

the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious

2 : confirmed in a habit : habitual

an inveterate liar

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inveterately

adverb

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Examples of inveterate in a Sentence

his inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales

Recent Examples of inveterate from the Web

To shore up his standing with white evangelicals, the president released lists of potential nominees during the campaign, and has met at least seven people on those lists, though Mr Trump, an inveterate showman, may choose someone else entirely.

— The Economist, "A court with a solid conservative majority could reshape American life," 5 July 2018
Grenell, meanwhile, seemed an ideal Trumpist standard-bearer — a former aide to national security adviser John Bolton, a Fox News talking head and an inveterate tormentor of journalists and Democrats on social media.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "The U.S. ambassador in Germany flies the Trumpist flag," 5 June 2018
The central idea is that business and conservation need not be inveterate adversaries.

— mark sappenfield, The Christian Science Monitor, "When a healthy environment is good business," 4 June 2018
Only a committed sportsman or an inveterate thrill-seeker could ignore those incentives in the interests of putting Justify to the sternest possible test.

— tim sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "Of course Audible scratched. WinStar Farms has too much money at stake," 25 May 2018
Here, Ehrenreich speaks as an inveterate gym rat, a participant in the astonishing rise of the workout since the 1970s.

— gabriel winant, The New Republic, "Barbara Ehrenreich’s radical critique of wellness and self-improvement," 23 May 2018
My dad was an inveterate gambler; that was very difficult.

— denise davidson, sandiegouniontribune.com, "In new memoir, comedian Annabelle Gurwitch focuses on family and tribalism," 21 May 2018
Oversight of Transdev has been an inveterate challenge for the current RTA board, which is still searching for a new executive director after the sudden resignation of Greg Cook in September.

— beau evans, NOLA.com, "RTA chairwoman resigned ahead of Cantrell inauguration," 8 May 2018
While inveterate stomach and side sleepers may groan to hear this, sleeping like that is a fast track to fine lines and skin sagging, says London skin guru Amanda Lacey, who treats Gwyneth Paltrow.

— liz krieger, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Best Anti-Aging Skin Secrets From Top Facialists," 26 Nov. 2015

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

The History of inveterate

Like veteran, inveterate ultimately comes from Latin vetus, which means "old," and which led to the Latin verb inveterare ("to age"). That verb in turn gave rise eventually to the adjective inveteratus, the direct source of our adjective inveterate (in use since the 14th century). In the past, inveterate has meant "long-standing" or simply "old." For example, one 16th-century writer warned of "Those great Flyes which in the springe time of the yeare creepe out of inveterate walls." Today, inveterate most often applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence that it is practically ineradicable or unalterable.

Origin and Etymology of inveterate

Middle English, from Latin inveteratus, from past participle of inveterare to age (transitive verb), from in- + veter-, vetus old — more at wether

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

inveterate Synonyms

Synonyms

bred-in-the-bone, confirmed, deep, deep-rooted, deep-seated, entrenched (also intrenched), hard-core, rooted, settled;

Near Antonyms

brief, ephemeral, fleeting, impermanent, interim, momentary, provisional, short-lived, short-term, temporary, transient;

embedded (also imbedded), implanted, inculcated, instilled;

inborn, inbred, ingrained (also engrained), inherent, innate, integral, intrinsic, natural;

accustomed, chronic, customary, habitual, regular, typical, usual;

abiding, enduring, lifelong, persistent, persisting;

Synonym Discussion of inveterate

inveterate, confirmed, chronic mean firmly established. inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable.