bacchanal

1 of 2

noun

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl How to pronounce bacchanal (audio) ˈbä- How to pronounce bacchanal (audio) ˌba-kə-ˈnal How to pronounce bacchanal (audio)
ˌbä-kə-ˈnäl
Synonyms of bacchanal
1
a
: orgy sense 2
b
: orgy sense 3
2
a
: a devotee of Bacchus
especially : one who celebrates the Bacchanalia
b
: reveler

bacchanal

2 of 2

adjective

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl How to pronounce bacchanal (audio)
: of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia : bacchanalian

Examples of bacchanal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The basketball bacchanal is the thing – swapping pep bands in end zone pits and dancing mascots and eight teams taking one court chasing after the same singular prize. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026 Fireworks—plumes of smoke and pinwheeling streaks of sparks—were often deployed to amp up the atmospherics, lending his scenes the feel of a barn-burning bacchanal. — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Adjective
The feast played out in both reality and in a bacchanal dream sequence. — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2023 This year’s bacchanal, hosted with Grindr and 818 Tequila, did not disappoint. — Ian Malone, Vogue, 27 June 2022 See All Example Sentences for bacchanal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, shrine of Bacchus, probably back-formation from Bacchanalia

First Known Use

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bacchanal was in 1536

Rhymes for bacchanal

See All Rhymes for bacchanal

Browse Nearby Words

Bacchae
bacchanal
bacchanale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bacchanal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bacchanal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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