as in alcohol
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk
she blamed John Barleycorn for the breakdown of their marriage
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Recent Examples of John Barleycorn
And when Traffic reconvened in 1970 to record their comeback album John Barleycorn Must Die, Mason wasn’t involved.
—
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Santa Claus had triumphed over John Barleycorn.
—Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Santa Claus had triumphed over John Barleycorn.
—Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Barleycorn
Noun
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Stimulants, such as caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine, can also affect your sleep.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
10 June 2026
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The New York Times reports that some of the panelists had financial ties to the alcohol industry.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Noun
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The county’s share of liquor revenue dropped by several hundred thousand dollars, Tripple said, part of a plan executed at the end of the session to divert liquor revenue to state police to make up for straggling wages.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
15 June 2026
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Footage from the bank and the liquor store showed Edwards wearing distinctive sunglasses with white frames, which were found under Gudowski's body, the complaint states.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Noun
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The hotel's Ajax Tavern, directly facing the mountain, has indoor and outdoor seating and is a great spot for a drink or hot bowl of soup (or, why not, a Wagyu cheeseburger with truffle fries) while watching people make their final runs down at the end of the day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
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Doors open an hour and a half before the games, featuring food and drinks representing each country.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Why ban a less harmful compound like cannabis when booze is cheap and widely available to adults?—
Andrew DeAngelo,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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The day after the crash, the FWC investigators found a stash of empty booze bottles and cans on the boat.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The latter is inspired by Prohibition-era nightlife, with notes of rum, tobacco, and smooth, velvety orris.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
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This cocktail is made with rum, jasmine cardamom syrup, lime, and soda water.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
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The railroad got cut to maximize walking spaces while the Haunted Mansion was removed out of respect for Chinese cultural sensitivities regarding death and spirits.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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For more than 48 hours, captain Lillian Zulu had been trying to keep her squad's spirits high despite mounting obstacles.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
NPR,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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