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

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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
  • All involved persons are in their 20s, according to scanner audio, and alcohol may have been involved in the incident.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026
  • Research by British alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware shows an increasing number are embracing low and no-alcohol drinks.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • Just this month, the White House threatened to impose additional tariffs on Canada, over reasons including a boycott of eight Canadian provinces on American liquor.
    — Rafael Nam, NPR, 25 July 2026
  • Members get their own liquor locker, and can bring up to three guests for free to reservations.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 25 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
  • The Sports Playbook Shifts From Beer To Spirits For decades, booze sales in sports stadiums were dominated by large brewers.
    — John Kell, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • That led to most Canadian provinces banning the sale of American booze as of March 2025 (only Alberta and Saskatchewan have lifted their bans).
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 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 spirits Gu-cheon interacts with throughout the series were invisible on set.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Fatty Arbuckle’s Pub, established in 2003, is home to over 200 different whiskeys and fine spirits.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of spirits

Browse Nearby Words

john
John Barleycorn
John Barleycorns
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Cite this Entry

“John Barleycorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Barleycorn. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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