drunkenness

Definition of drunkennessnext
1
as in alcoholism
habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants unfortunately most of his time in college had been devoted to drunkenness and debauchery

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in inebriation
the condition of being drunk officials warning that public drunkenness would not be tolerated, even during Mardi Gras

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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 drunkenness States have generally applied Clean Slate to non-violent, low-level offenses like writing a bad check, drug possession or public drunkenness. Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 May 2026 The resolution from the county lists certain misdemeanors, including marijuana possession, public drunkenness, and criminal trespassing. Emily McLeod, CBS News, 27 May 2026 The City Council passed the measure to help deter public drunkenness and crime downstream from easy access to shooters and single-serving malt beverages. Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 The Puritans once banned the game shuffleboard, an occasion for gambling and drunkenness. Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence and studies showing that gun ownership and drunkenness can be a dangerous cocktail. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026 Rather, a lengthy process can be initiated to remove a member from office for gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, or other misconduct, the Ohio School Board Association stated. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2026 He was detained again in 2017 for an assault in Queens, then six months later arrested for suspicion of public drunkenness in Georgia. Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026 He was twice arrested in 2017, first for assault in Queens, and then in George for suspicion of public drunkenness. Jami Ganz, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drunkenness
Noun
  • But during his rapid rise in Hollywood, McCarthy was also struggling with alcoholism, a battle that eventually led him to seek treatment in the ’90s.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • Her interest in cooking was a way to her self-recovery from alcoholism.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Ultimately, jurors sided with prosecutors whose 2023 criminal indictment outlined numerous instances of teens getting injured as a result of their inebriation under her watch.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
  • Spike Jones and His City Slickers recorded their version with a flurry of wacky sound effects that made the inebriation seem even more soused.
    David Morgan, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The coroner’s office later determined the cause of death was fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication.
    Theresa Clift May 29, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
  • Those offenses could include public intoxication, disorderly conduct, fights and noise disturbances.
    Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drunkenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drunkenness. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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