John Barleycorn

noun

Definition of John Barleycornnext
as in alcohol
a distilled beverage that can make a person drunk she blamed John Barleycorn for the breakdown of their marriage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 John Barleycorn And when Traffic reconvened in 1970 to record their comeback album John Barleycorn Must Die, Mason wasn’t involved. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Barleycorn
  1. alcohol
  2. liquor
  3. drink
  4. booze
  5. rum
  6. spirits
Noun
  • Since 2004, the group has run a learning center for children, raised awareness about drug and alcohol abuse and brought doctors and mobile clinics into this neighborhood with very few basic services.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The creator of vivid, indelible fantasies for women to try on and to embody was also a fragile and anguished man, troubled throughout his life by alcohol, drug dependency, and bouts of debilitating depression.
    — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • Overnight, a category that spread into gas stations, liquor stores and grocery chains would lose its legal footing, and the drinks Cann sells at Target and Circle K would have to come off the shelves.
    — Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • One of them, a shorter, bearded man with a nose reddened and swollen from years of abusing liquor, gave a low whistle.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of liquor
Noun
  • Nonalcoholic drinks are given as much care as the spirited cocktails; try the lemon-lavender-ginger Root Chakra for a sophisticated alternative.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
  • Granada is open just six hours a day, 9am to 3pm, timed around the couple’s daughter’s school schedule, and on its busiest days serves up to 300 drinks.
    — Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • These kids have their run of the island, and there’s ample sun and boats, booze and pot, old friends and new ones at the ready whenever Annie’s journey of self-discovery gets too heavy.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Though booze and energy drinks are often consumed together, Verster argued that beverages like Red Bull aren’t to blame for bad things that happen when people get drunk.
    — Ashley Okwuosa, STAT, 30 July 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • Tiki culture, originating in the 1930s, is experiencing a significant resurgence, now expanding beyond rum-only drinks.
    — Carissa Chesanek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • My drink of choice was The Plea Deal, a Tiki-esque take on a Painkiller, with rum, orange and pineapple juices, coconut cream, and more.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of rum
Noun
  • The three will open Terruño Ancestral Spirits in the LoDo space later this month, showcasing spirits from their native Mexico along with traditional dishes beyond the Tex-Mex style that has become commonplace in the states.
    — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Unlike many other spirits, gin allows each botanical to play a defining role in the final profile.
    — Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of spirits

Browse Nearby Words

john
John Barleycorn
John Barleycorns
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All