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
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
-
Noel was arrested and charged with hit-and-run with property damage, driving while impaired, driving with no liability insurance, and driving with an open container of alcohol, officials said.—
Mark Price
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and other stimulants before bed.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two men have been indicted on federal charges of possessing guns in a school zone, though the case stems from a shootout across the street from an elementary school, in a liquor store parking lot, court records show.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Cannabis lounges are prohibited from selling beer, wine and liquor, and restaurants and bars serving alcohol are prohibited from selling marijuana products.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
More than 22,000 oranges are squeezed, and hundreds of gallons of drinks are poured, all for opening day.—
Caroline Foreback,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The same rule applies to fruity drinks, milk and iced tea.—
Brianna Taylor,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Keep the booze flowing at White Stadium during professional women’s soccer matches, the Boston City Council said when rejecting a measure that sought to uphold state law restricting alcohol at public school facilities.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Besides abstaining from booze, scientists also don’t have a bulletproof way to prevent hangovers.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While the pastry typically has a slight rum taste, the Trader Joe's version has a vanilla flavor.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Fresh juices, quality rums, pristine drinkmaking technique — the Cove stupefied with its faultless approach.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The vice president of the Gardner PTA, Oralia Rodriguez, even brought ice cream to campus in an effort to lift spirits.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Pernod Ricard has spent recent years moving away from wine and toward spirits, including the December sale of Mumm Napa to Trinchero Family Wine & Spirits.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
