What does "inebriate" mean?
A person who is intoxicated, especially one who is habitually drunk.
Inebriate
/ɪˈniːbɹiət/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who is intoxicated, especially one who is habitually drunk.
- Grammar: inebriate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: drunk, drunkard, intoxicate, addle.
- Useful contrasts: abstainer, nonintoxicating, sober.
- Usage evidence: As he walked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recovered his equilibrium and required less help.
How to use "inebriate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "inebriate" 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
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
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 "inebriate" 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
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "inebriate" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "inebriate" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "drunk" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who is intoxicated, especially one who is habitually drunk.
"As he walked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recovered his equilibrium and required less help."
- 2 a chronic drinker wordnet
Verb
- 1 To cause to be drunk; to intoxicate. transitive
- 2 become drunk or drink excessively wordnet
- 3 To disorder the senses of; to exhilarate, elate or stupefy as if by spirituous drink. figuratively, transitive
"the inebriating effect of popular applause"
- 4 make drunk (with alcoholic drinks) wordnet
- 5 To become drunk. intransitive
"fish that come from the Euxine Sea ; that when they come into the fresh water , do inebriate and turn up their bellies , so as you may take them with your hand"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 fill with sublime emotion wordnet
Adjective
- 1 intoxicated; drunk
"Victoria, on the other hand, has apparently become more inebriate, as, according to the figures, arrests for drunkenness within her boundaries, in proportion to the population, increased from 12 per 1,000 in 1880 to 16½ in 1890 and nearly 16 in 1891; but even the latter proportions were still lower than in New South Wales during the same periods."
Antonyms
Example
"As he walked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recovered his equilibrium and required less help."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "inebriate"?
Common synonyms include: drunk, drunkard, intoxicate, addle, addled, alcoholic.
How do you use "inebriate" in a sentence?
As he walked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recovered his equilibrium and required less help.
How do you pronounce "inebriate"?
Pronounced /ɪˈniːbɹiət/.
Etymology
From Latin inēbriō, inēbriāre, from ēbrius (“drunk”).