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
  • State police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal head-on crash in Middlefield last August after investigators found that his blood alcohol content was allegedly more than twice the legal limit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Younger generations drink less alcohol in general and are less likely to choose wine.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • The combination of the World Cup, Sail Boston, and Boston 250 events saw an economic boom fueled by liquor sales, tall ships, and Scots covering statues with road cones.
    — Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And, of course, for those of us who like their soda spiked, look for liquor notes like the bourbon in Armaf Odyssey Soda Pop EDP or rum in Borntostandout Cola Addict EDP.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of liquor
Noun
  • The friendly multilingual staff hail from either Croatia or Serbia and quickly learn your favorite drinks and dishes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There was dancing, drinks and dazzling artifacts at the de Young Museum Thursday night.
    — Andrea Nakano, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • That includes lavish dinners with free-flowing booze, part of a decadent culture that Chinese leader Xi Jinping sees as a threat to the ruling Communist Party’s power and the country’s economic growth.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The frozen treat was popular enough that major alcohol manufacturers like Anheuser-Busch, who were prevented from selling booze during Prohibition, started producing ice cream instead.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • The New York bar quickly became a hot spot known for its creative cocktails, particularly those infused with rum.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Both locations, which feature ship riggings, ocean-blue floors and other buccaneer-chic theming, offer a gastropub menu of burgers, salads, prime-rib sandwiches and a rum wall stocked with hundreds of rare bottles.
    — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of rum
Noun
  • The mini bar—located inside a gorgeous wooden cabinet—was filled with local spirits like pox, a Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane, and wheat, and Mayalen Guerrero mezcal in a bottle so beautiful I was tempted to sneak it back in my suitcase.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drinkwitz has said Hardy is in good spirits throughout his recovery, even having his son accompany him to rehab.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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