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
  • The trial is being closely watched for its implications for other fatal high-speed crashes that don't involve drugs or alcohol.
    — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Genetics, smoking and alcohol use are risk factors, but Kingham says changing diets are the biggest cause of the global increase.
    — Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • Though most grocery stores and liquor stores remain open for Labor Day, some establishments also take part in the federal holiday.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Ecology officials were notified that 250,000 gallons (946,353 liters) of black liquor was discharging into and out of the containment area, according to emails among investigators.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of liquor
Noun
  • Now, to the handwashing shortcomings, such as a cashier handling customer’s payment, then preparing drinks and serving plates of food to customers without washing hands (cash and payment cards tend to be germ motherships).
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Sucré also produces non-alcoholic drinks from California wine grapes.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • Trump demanded that Canada put American booze back on Canadian shelves.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, our northern neighbor banned the sale of American booze (which is still ongoing in nearly all Canada’s provinces today).
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • The pineapple and coconut rum baba afterward was the dessert of my dreams.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The distillery uses both cane juice and molasses to make its rum, and eschews the use of sugar or additives.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rum
Noun
  • The project follows a husband and wife who buy their dream ranch only to discover the land is alive with ancient spirits, and survival means submitting to increasingly disturbing rituals with each turn of the season.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Directed by Geum Dong-ho, the musical animation follows a singer-songwriter with the supernatural ability to see spirits who joins forces with a quartet of ghosts to form a musical troupe.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 31 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 6 Sep. 2026.

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