1
as in alcoholism
habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants
unfortunately most of his time in college had been devoted to drunkenness and debauchery
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of drunkenness
Pearl’s drunkenness provides the substrate for the novel’s magic, its icy transformation of the ordinary.
—
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As Josh Barro argued two and a half years ago, a disquieting number of Kennedy men have injured or killed their romantic partners or themselves out of drunkenness and stupidity.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
The police also said that administrative proceedings had been initiated for public drunkenness and minor hooliganism.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
While illicit drugs such as cocaine or heroin were largely unknown at the time of the nation’s founding, drunkenness was common and alcohol consumption was dramatic.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Ancestors are memorialized but then assured that the rum still flows as drunkenness overtakes our narrator.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With the beer and the drunkenness and the verve that Yazid had shown in stabbing himself, and not wanting to draw attention to the episode, Kamran didn’t make a fuss.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Begging or drunkenness could mean a week to a couple of months on a chain gang, grading and paving roads, fixing bridges, hauling debris, and otherwise helping to construct the fast-growing city.
—JSTOR Daily, 21 Oct. 2025
The list of allowable grounds includes malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As Josh Barro argued two and a half years ago, a disquieting number of Kennedy men have injured or killed their romantic partners or themselves out of drunkenness and stupidity.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
The police also said that administrative proceedings had been initiated for public drunkenness and minor hooliganism.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
While illicit drugs such as cocaine or heroin were largely unknown at the time of the nation’s founding, drunkenness was common and alcohol consumption was dramatic.
—Morgan Marietta, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
Ancestors are memorialized but then assured that the rum still flows as drunkenness overtakes our narrator.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
With the beer and the drunkenness and the verve that Yazid had shown in stabbing himself, and not wanting to draw attention to the episode, Kamran didn’t make a fuss.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Begging or drunkenness could mean a week to a couple of months on a chain gang, grading and paving roads, fixing bridges, hauling debris, and otherwise helping to construct the fast-growing city.
—JSTOR Daily, 21 Oct. 2025
The list of allowable grounds includes malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, habitual drunkenness, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drunkenness
Noun
-
Arnold spoke frequently about his recovery from alcoholism as well as his faith.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Well, the girls invent time machines to travel to the past and question their realities, playfully dealing with such complex issues as gender differences, alcoholism, and religion.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bella Hadid was reportedly pulled over by police in Texas just minutes before her cowboy beau Adan Banuelos was arrested for public intoxication early Saturday.—
Jami Ganz,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Joel Avalos, 31, faces charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault in the fatal crash.—
Timia Cobb,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drunkenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drunkenness. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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