What does "bacchanalian" mean?
A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
Bacchanalian
/ˌbækəˈneɪli.ən/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
- Grammar: bacchanalian is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bacchic, alcoholic, bacchanal, bacchantic.
- Useful contrasts: disciplined, measured, restrained.
- Usage evidence: Ortygia's port we leave, and skim the mere; / soon Naxos' Bacchanalian hills appear, / and past Olearos and Donysa, crowned / with trees, and Paros' snowy cliffs we steer. / Far-scattered shine the Cyclades renowned, / and clustering isles thick-sown in many a glittering sound.
How to use "bacchanalian"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bacchanalian" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bacchanalian" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bacchanalian" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
"With the help of a sleepy waiter, Little Billee got the bacchanalian into his room and lit his candle for him, and, disengaging himself from his maudlin embraces, left him to wallow in solitude."
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Bacchanalian. alt-of
"With the help of a sleepy waiter, Little Billee got the bacchanalian into his room and lit his candle for him, and, disengaging himself from his maudlin embraces, left him to wallow in solitude."
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus, relating to or given to reveling and drunkenness. Greek, Roman, not-comparable
"Near-synonyms: bacchic, bacchian; Dionysiac, Dionysian; dionysiac, dionysian"
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Bacchanalian. alt-of, not-comparable
"Within three hours we'd drunk the place dry. Miraculously, we all made it back on the bus, but I've never seen a more bacchanalian scene of wanton debauchery than the ride back to the hotel."
- 3 Of or resembling wild or unrestrained revelry. broadly, not-comparable
"The dancing and shouting of the children around the fire had become even more bacchanalian."
Adjective
- 1 used of riotously drunken merrymaking wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Ortygia's port we leave, and skim the mere; / soon Naxos' Bacchanalian hills appear, / and past Olearos and Donysa, crowned / with trees, and Paros' snowy cliffs we steer. / Far-scattered shine the Cyclades renowned, / and clustering isles thick-sown in many a glittering sound."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bacchanalian"?
Common synonyms include: bacchic, alcoholic, bacchanal, bacchantic, barfly, bat.
How do you use "bacchanalian" in a sentence?
Ortygia's port we leave, and skim the mere; / soon Naxos' Bacchanalian hills appear, / and past Olearos and Donysa, crowned / with trees, and Paros' snowy cliffs we steer. / Far-scattered shine the Cyclades renowned, / and clustering isles thick-sown in many a glittering sound.
How do you pronounce "bacchanalian"?
Pronounced /ˌbækəˈneɪli.ən/.
Etymology
From Bacchanalia + -an.