John Barleycorn

noun

Definition of John Barleycornnext
as in alcohol
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk she blamed John Barleycorn for the breakdown of their marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Barleycorn
  1. alcohol
  2. liquor
  3. drink
  4. booze
  5. rum
  6. spirits
Noun
  • The compounding frustrations of this situation, fueled by too much alcohol, finally expose Uta’s double life.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Mountain Rescue Aspen has responded to a rising number of calls involving drug and alcohol use this season.
    — The Aspen Times, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • Pham and Salerno, represented by Christopher McCartan, say that Lavery killed Collins by hitting her over the head with a Fireball liquor bottle and stabbing her more than 130 times.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The trio also operate four Quarterdeck restaurants in South Florida and a pair of classy brown-liquor lounges named Whiskey Neat.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of liquor
Noun
  • Servers take orders for espresso drinks and hot made-to-order dishes like fresh omelettes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • This spirit makes drinks that pair perfectly with the season as the leaves fall and the sweaters come out of the back of the closet.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • In the action movie, the cops usually have to bribe the person with access to the surveillance tool with cookies and booze to run a search without a warrant, right?
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Not a pushover but a practical-minded realist, the chef takes the punches, striking up a booze-smuggling deal with the Americans to keep the orphans living in his restaurant safe.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • Drink Like a Fish mixes two rums, Mount Gay Eclipse from Barbados and Appleton Jamaican rum, with Blue Curacao citrus liqueur, a house cinnamon syrup and Earl Grey tea.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Serve warm with ice cream and an extra drizzle of rum, if desired.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of rum
Noun
  • The wines and spirits division maintained its momentum with a 6 percent increase in organic sales, while revenues in perfumes and cosmetics were flat in the quarter.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • These competitive spirits must defeat someone else, proving their mastery of the English language in the arena.
    — Sean McGowan, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of spirits

Browse Nearby Words

john
John Barleycorn
John Barleycorns
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Cite this Entry

“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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