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wassail 1 of 2

noun

ˈwä-səl How to pronounce wassail (audio)
Definition of wassailnext
as in drunk
a bout of prolonged or excessive drinking woke up with a terrible headache from a wild wassail the night before

Synonyms & Similar Words

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wassail

2 of 2

verb

as in to drink
to take part in drunken revelry the knights feasted and wassailed for three days after the battlefield victory

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 wassail
Noun
Enjoy Harvest Cider, special wassail cocktails, live music, costume contest and the Blessing of the Trees. — Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 14 Jan. 2024 One of the most traditional holiday drinks of them all, wintertime wassail gets a contemporary update in this flavorful drink recipe. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Nov. 2023 Each glass of this nonalcoholic wassail is garnished with an apple slice and cinnamon stick. — Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2023
Verb
Some speculate that wassailing predates Christianity in the region; others note its association with the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 24 Dec. 2025 Image Image In the village of Midsomer Norton, about 50 miles away, 100 people or so turned out for a community event to wassail three small apple trees in the local park. — Stephen Castle, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025 Reisinger's Apple Country, located in Watkins Glen on Seneca Lake, also has a wassailing event on the horizon. — Jennifer Nalewicki, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Jan. 2018 There was toasting and wassailing all around And cinnamon sticks in yule logs were wrapped and bound. — Marc Bona, cleveland.com, 26 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wassail
  1. drunk
  2. drink
  3. spree
  4. binge
  5. carouse
Noun
  • In the beginning, the team largely focused on fatal drunk-driving cases, Cherney said.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Every day, approximately 32 people in the United States are killed in drunk-driving crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of drunk
Verb
  • Loise, vibrant but tense, gets through her days by drinking wine.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • It’s been so dry that Valdez no longer can get water in his irrigation system for his animals to drink.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • Analysts argued that the potential benefits from this year's acquisition spree, which was funded by Lilly's GLP-1 windfall, are being underestimated by the market.
    — Jeff Marks,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The random shooting spree killed 10 people and terrorized the entire Washington, DC, area for three weeks.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of spree
Verb
  • Viewers will have plenty to cozy up to, with a slew of series dropping around holidays — a perfect time to binge your new favorite watch.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The shows also serve to eat up time during dayside hours when consumers may not be interested in binging a drama series or original movie.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of binge
Verb
  • Three sitting rooms are complemented by a further three members’ social spaces for carousing in, concealed behind a subtle screen (here, DJs including Goldierocks make appearances, and mobile snaps are banned; staff politely place a sticker over mobile camera lenses).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
  • Bethany takes the explosive event as a sign to reunite with her old girlfriend Nel (Lena Góra), and carouse across lofts, clubs, and back alleys, leaving her erstwhile partner stranded.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of carouse

Browse Nearby Words

waspishness
wassail
wassailed
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Cite this Entry

“Wassail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wassail. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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