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 John Barleycorn
Santa Claus had triumphed over John Barleycorn.
—
Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Gary Kamiya, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Dec. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Barleycorn
Noun
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Officers patrolling the park found the man drinking an open container of alcohol by W. 137th St. and Riverside Drive at about 10:05 p.m. Thursday.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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Steele was arrested in 2024 for driving under the influence of alcohol after a car crash, but has been fighting the charge and is due back in court later this summer.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Woman wearing long white dress dancing in low light holding bottle of liquor.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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The jury did convict Read of operating under the influence of liquor, and she was sentenced to one year of probation.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
Noun
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This makes enough green tomato water for about 6 cocktails Serving Suggestion To mix one drink: Fill a glass with ice.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
22 June 2025
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In the meantime, while her rivals for spots on Team USA are training on the push track in Lake Placid’s ice house, Jones is 1,600 miles away in Baton Rouge, where the only available ice comes in drinks and plastic bags.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
21 June 2025
Noun
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Amid the frenzied party — which included Sam Reinhart climbing a stripper pole, Brad Marchand crowd surfing and, yes, plenty of booze flowing — a key player might have revealed big news regarding his future with the team.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
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The booze was part of it, a likely symptom at first, and later a cause.—
Mark Kriegel
June 4,
Literary Hub,
4 June 2025
Noun
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There are big notes of sweet fruit, caramelized brown sugar, black pepper, rum raisin, and cinnamon leading things off over a faint wisp of smoldering campfire which lies just underneath.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
22 June 2025
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Or swap out the peach schnapps for bourbon or light rum.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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