drunkenness

noun

Definition of drunkennessnext
1
as in alcoholism
habitual or excessive drinking of intoxicants unfortunately most of his time in college had been devoted to drunkenness and debauchery

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inebriation
the condition of being drunk officials warning that public drunkenness would not be tolerated, even during Mardi Gras

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 drunkenness His later years were plagued by illness, drunkenness, disappointment, and debt. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026 Court paperwork shows Viviano was cited for public drunkenness and similar misconduct. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Not even Jeff being annoyed at Kasandra’s drunkenness can ruin the mood. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026 Avoiding hangovers and the effects of drunkenness were also commonly cited. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 States have generally applied Clean Slate to non-violent, low-level offenses like writing a bad check, drug possession or public drunkenness. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 May 2026 The City Council passed the measure to help deter public drunkenness and crime downstream from easy access to shooters and single-serving malt beverages. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026 The Puritans once banned the game shuffleboard, an occasion for gambling and drunkenness. — Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence and studies showing that gun ownership and drunkenness can be a dangerous cocktail. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drunkenness
  1. alcoholism
  2. inebriation
  3. intoxication
Noun
  • In 1978, the year after her mother’s death, Christina published her tell-all memoir, Mommie Dearest, chronicling her life at home—which included claims that her mother was abusive and suffered from alcoholism.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • For years, Pollock’s brother Sande had nursed him through alcoholism and breakdowns, but then Krasner stepped in.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of alcoholism
Noun
  • Ultimately, jurors sided with prosecutors whose 2023 criminal indictment outlined numerous instances of teens getting injured as a result of their inebriation under her watch.
    — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 May 2026
  • Spike Jones and His City Slickers recorded their version with a flurry of wacky sound effects that made the inebriation seem even more soused.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Definition of inebriation
Noun
  • Eppright was booked into the Bexar County jail Thursday on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, court records show.
    — Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Sanchez has been charged with a level five felony of battery involving serious bodily injury, as well as the misdemeanors of battery resulting in injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of intoxication

Browse Nearby Words

drunken
drunkenness
drunk (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Drunkenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drunkenness. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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