As he walked along, the inebriate, whose gait was at first unsteady, recovered his equilibrium and required less help.
Source: wiktionary
Inebriate
/ɪˈniːbɹiət/
Synonyms for "inebriate" (120 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
Strong matches (36)
Related words (60)
heavy drinkerimbiberin liquorinebriatedinebriousintoxicateintoxicatedjollylovepotlushmaudlinmellowmerrymuddlednappyoenophilistpathological drinkerpot companionproblem drinkerreeling
Noun(10 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: drunk, drunkard, intoxicate, addle, addled.
- Sentence evidence is available for inebriate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "inebriate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "inebriate"
Keep "inebriate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "inebriate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "inebriate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "inebriate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
20 entriesShowing 16 of 20 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
11 entriesinebriate caseinebriate clinicinebriate effectsinebriate individualinebriate patientinebriate programinebriate stateinebriate wardinebriating effectmore inebriatemost inebriate
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
6 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
5 translations across 4 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- опиянявам verb (fill with sublime emotion)
French
1 entries- enivrer verb (fill with sublime emotion)
German
1 entries- berauschen verb (fill with sublime emotion)
Korean
2 entries- 곤드레만드레 취하다 verb (fill with sublime emotion)
- 잔뜩 취하다 verb (fill with sublime emotion)
Sample sentences
6 total sentences available.
the inebriating effect of popular applause
Source: wiktionary
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
Source: wiktionary
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.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 6 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "inebriate"?
Closest matches include drunk, drunkard, intoxicate, addle, addled.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "inebriate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.