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

Relevance

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
  • And even though alcohol sales have dropped, people are still seeking out comparable flavors in nonalcoholic options and mocktails.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Campbell became a member of the band after the death of lead guitarist Steve Clark, who died in 1991 from a combination of drugs and alcohol.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • The import taxes will hit everything from hockey sticks, to some building materials, liquors and certain kinds of clothing.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of liquor
Noun
  • The friendly multilingual staff hail from either Croatia or Serbia and quickly learn your favorite drinks and dishes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There was dancing, drinks and dazzling artifacts at the de Young Museum Thursday night.
    — Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • That includes lavish dinners with free-flowing booze, part of a decadent culture that Chinese leader Xi Jinping sees as a threat to the ruling Communist Party’s power and the country’s economic growth.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The frozen treat was popular enough that major alcohol manufacturers like Anheuser-Busch, who were prevented from selling booze during Prohibition, started producing ice cream instead.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • The New York bar quickly became a hot spot known for its creative cocktails, particularly those infused with rum.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Both locations, which feature ship riggings, ocean-blue floors and other buccaneer-chic theming, offer a gastropub menu of burgers, salads, prime-rib sandwiches and a rum wall stocked with hundreds of rare bottles.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rum
Noun
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirits

Browse Nearby Words

john
John Barleycorn
John Barleycorns
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All