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 Synonyms for John Barleycorn
Noun
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Public health data has taught us that alcohol, which can be fine when consumed in moderation, can be harmful to individual and societal health in excessive amounts.
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In fact, the organizers have expressly banned alcohol and drugs from the event – and the attendees wouldn’t have it any other way.
Noun
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The film was projected under some Christmas lights, which splayed over the liquor.
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In 2023, the Ukrainian government sanctioned him for allegedly continuing to engage with Russia, paying taxes to Moscow and facilitating business transactions through his liquor business in Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014.
Noun
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Sugary drinks, greasy grill residue, dropped crumbs and overflowing trash are all fair game.
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The tiki drinks, delivered both poolside and beachside, were fruity and strong but well balanced.
Noun
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How the alcohol industry puts policy on ice Each year, the American Cancer Society raises hundreds of thousands from the wine and spirits industry through an annual fundraising gala featuring free-flowing booze like pineapple margaritas.
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No wonder Don Draper drank booze all the time.
Noun
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In 1776, rum was the most popular spirit — whiskey would take that top spot in the 1780s — so rum would be the most on-theme liquor.
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People drank rum punch at almost every gathering, often sharing from a single communal bowl.
Noun
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Koval Distillery, Chicago’s first legal post-Prohibition distillery, produces spirits as artful as its bottle designs and Vin312 Winery has grown from its owner’s garage into a full-fledged tasting room.
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The release continues Tamworth’s tradition of creating spirits inspired by the natural world around its rural New Hampshire home.
Cite this Entry
“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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