inveterate

adjective

in·​vet·​er·​ate in-ˈve-t(ə-)rət How to pronounce inveterate (audio)
1
: confirmed in a habit : habitual
an inveterate liar
2
: firmly established by long persistence
the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
inveterately adverb

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The History of Inveterate

Despite how it may seem at first glance, inveterate has nothing to do with lacking a spine. That’s invertebrate, which came into English in the early 19th century from New Latin, the Latin vocabulary used in scientific description and classification. Inveterate, on the other hand, is a true veteran of the English language, with a membership card dating to the 15th century. Like veteran, inveterate ultimately comes from the Latin adjective vetus, which means "old." (In times past, inveterate had among its meanings "old.") The more direct source of inveterate, however, is the Latin adjective inveteratus, with which it shares the meaning "firmly established by long persistence." Today inveterate most often describes someone who so frequently or invariably engages in a particular habit or attitude as to be regularly identified with that habit or attitude, as when political columnist Jamelle Bouie observed "The truth is that our best presidents—or at least our most successful ones—have been inveterate flip-floppers, willing to break from unpopular positions, move with political winds, and adjust to new complications."

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

an inveterate smoker

confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform.

a confirmed bachelor

chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome.

a chronic complainer

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 on the Web As Swifties will know, Taylor Swift is an inveterate mom-meeter. Vulture, 24 Sep. 2023 Maybe the government does know all about it, and—never mind the inveterate leakiness of Washington intelligence—has managed to keep a near-perfect secret for close to a century. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 27 July 2023 The Rachmaninoff marathon also had a virtuosic appeal for Wang, an inveterate thrill-seeker who has learned to Jet Ski and dabbled in cryotherapy. Javier C. Hernández, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2023 For Leon Cannizzaro, preparing to leave office after 12 years as Orleans Parish district attorney, one defendant that was in his sights and got away is a particularly vexing one: the inveterate child molester and former Catholic deacon George Brignac. Ramon Antonio Vargas | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 18 Dec. 2020 In the age of oversharing, yachts are a final sanctum of secrecy, even for some of the world’s most inveterate talkers. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022 Paul is, by her own account, an inveterate rule follower and homework finisher. Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2023 The governor, an inveterate backseat driver, is going to miss being behind the wheel. Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Jan. 2023 Byrd was an inveterate advocate of the institutional power of Congress. Thomas Geoghegan, The New Republic, 6 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inveterate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of inveterate was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near inveterate

Cite this Entry

“Inveterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inveterate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inveterate

adjective
in·​vet·​er·​ate in-ˈvet-ə-rət How to pronounce inveterate (audio)
-ˈve-trət
1
: firmly established by age or by long continuation
inveterate habits
2
: habitual sense 2
an inveterate complainer
inveterately adverb

Medical Definition

inveterate

adjective
in·​vet·​er·​ate in-ˈvet-ə-rət, -ˈve-trət How to pronounce inveterate (audio)
1
: marked by long duration or frequent recurrence
inveterate bursitis
2
: confirmed in a habit : habitual sense 2
an inveterate smoker

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