INVETERATE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'inveterate' distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words chronic and confirmed are common synonyms of inveterate . While all three words mean "firmly established," inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable. // an inveterate smoker

Q: Where would 'chronic' be a reasonable alternative to 'inveterate'?

The words chronic and inveterate can be used in similar contexts, but chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome. // a chronic complainer

Q: In what contexts can 'confirmed' take the place of 'inveterate'?

The meanings of confirmed and inveterate largely overlap; however, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform. // a confirmed bachelor

inveterate

adjective

in-ˈve-t(ə-)rət

Definition of inveterate

as in deep

firmly established over time he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in chronic

being such by habit and not likely to change the man is an inveterate liar who only rarely tells the truth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word inveterate distinct from other similar adjectives?

The words chronic and confirmed are common synonyms of inveterate. While all three words mean "firmly established," inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable.

an inveterate smoker

Where would chronic be a reasonable alternative to inveterate?

The words chronic and inveterate can be used in similar contexts, but chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome.

a chronic complainer

In what contexts can confirmed take the place of inveterate?

The meanings of confirmed and inveterate largely overlap; however, confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform.

a confirmed bachelor

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 inveterate The inveterate white supremacist Woodrow Wilson mouthed anti-colonial rhetoric before reverting to form at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The far-outside post doesn’t compromise this inveterate deep closer, but a lack of pace up front definitely will. — Teresa Genaro, New York Times, 5 June 2026 Ransomware and data extortion is an inveterate digital security problem, and attackers regularly repeat targets and stoop to new lows in carrying out large-scale disruptive attacks. — Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 12 May 2026 Critics of Israel often rightly point out that Palestinian radicalization is less the result of inveterate ideology than of continuous Israeli occupation, violence, and dispossession. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inveterate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for inveterate

Adjective

That gives camper travelers the ability to drive cleanly and quietly through city centers, around campgrounds and down deep forest roads.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
In the Soil Grubs and some types of moth larvae may dig in even deeper and overwinter directly in the soil itself.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of deep

Adjective

Achalasia is a chronic condition that causes trouble swallowing and passing food through the esophagus.

— Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 8 Nov. 2026
Seeking relief from chronic pain About one in four American adults lives with chronic pain, defined as pain lasting more than three months.

— David Morgan, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of chronic

Adjective

In a July 2009 interview with the American Film Institute, Jones discussed how director George Lucas hired him despite his lifelong stutter, which had improved over time.

— Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2026
The woman, who has a lifelong right to anonymity, told the court during the trial that in 2009 Brand’s two associates, Bayles and another producer, told her to give him a massage.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of lifelong

Adjective

CardsHQ's Wilson said some variation between assessments is an inherent challenge in a process that involves human judgment.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
This may involve following an order from inception to fulfillment; even a delivery exception or a refund can reveal inherent dependencies that haven’t been explored but will surface during implementation.

— Chris Dunn, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of inherent

Adjective

The first Prancing Horse without a combustion engine was always going to be an affront to the most hard-core faction of the brand’s many loyalists, but disappointment with the important model surpassed even them.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2026
Salazar’s attempt to distance herself from the increasingly-unpopular president could potentially appease moderate and independent voters, but her TV ad also irritated Trump personally — as well as some of his hard-core MAGA supporters.

— Michael Vasquez, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard-core

Adjective

Still, the most pernicious consequence of Beijing’s economic model is entrenched deflation.

— Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
The company is too deeply entrenched there, and its near-term ambitions for Starship, Starlink, and orbital data centers would be severely disrupted by a move.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of entrenched

Adjective

Clive’s homophobia, which draws on the myth that gay men are prone to pedophilia, seems less rooted in concern for his sons than in a fear that Leo will take or alter something that Clive claims as his own.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
Cowles died in 2014, but Baranski remains deeply rooted in his hometown.

— Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of rooted

Adjective

But there's no confirmed international launch either, so I wouldn't get carried away just yet.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
The confirmed case inside an elementary school has some Harford County residents concerned about the presence of wildlife in the community.

— Ashley Paul, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of confirmed

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inveteracy

inveterate

invidious

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“Inveterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inveterate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of inveterate

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