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
Santa Claus had triumphed over John Barleycorn.
—
Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Barleycorn
Noun
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The goal here is to convert the organic compound n-butanol into 1,4 butanediol, a bivalent alcohol and important raw material for plastics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The driver of the truck, a 40-year-old man, was not hurt and will be subject to drug and alcohol testing, which police say is standard procedure.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Last year, multiple locations were seized by the Kansas Department of Revenue for thousands of dollars in unpaid sales and liquor taxes.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
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Aldermen legalized video gambling machines in neighborhood establishments, restructured liquor taxes to bring in more revenue, cleared the way for advertising on downtown bridges and more.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The chain started with a single location in Rogers in 2017 and offers more than 20,000 drink combinations.—
John Magsam,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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When To Seek Medical Care Things like fizzy drinks, overeating, or swallowing air can cause bloating.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Although evidence does not indicate how many people who have given up booze are taking up weed, the percentage of Americans ages 19 to 30 who reported consuming marijuana within the past year went up by 56 percent from 2009 to 2023, according to a University of Michigan report.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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The Wild West saloon — fully equipped with fans, refrigerators, booze and a television — overlooks a pristine saltwater pool in the center of the quarter-acre yard.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The recognition is part of Zacapa’s continued partnership with LAFS, marking the third consecutive year the Guatemalan rum brand has celebrated leaders shaping Latin American design.—
Renan Botelho,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
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The cocktails are standout, with lots of libations made with Outer Banks Distilling (the rum is excellent).—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Despite its name, the bar operates as a globally minded cocktail destination with equal attention paid to other spirits, along with small bites and an impressive cigar selection.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
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And for Dirty Shirleys, different spirits, including vodka, gin, tequila and vermouth can be substituted.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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