inebriate

1 of 4

noun (1)

in·​ebri·​ate i-ˈnē-brē-ət How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
Synonyms of inebriatenext
: one who is drunk
especially : drunkard

inebriate

2 of 4

verb

in·​ebri·​ate i-ˈnē-brē-ˌāt How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
inebriated; inebriating

transitive verb

1
: to make drunk : intoxicate
2
: to exhilarate or stupefy as if by liquor
was inebriated by the feeling of power
inebriation
i-ˌnē-brē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
noun

inebriate

3 of 4

adjective

in·​ebri·​ate i-ˈnē-brē-ət How to pronounce inebriate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
1
: affected by alcohol : drunk
2
: addicted to excessive drinking

inebriation

4 of 4

noun (2)

in·​ebri·​a·​tion ə̇ˌnēbrēˈāshən How to pronounce inebriation (audio)
plural -s
1
: the action of inebriating or the condition of being inebriated
2
: habitual intoxication : drunkenness

Synonyms of inebriate

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Noun (1)

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of inebriate in a Sentence

Noun (1) having performed in countless bars and clubs, the stand-up comedian was used to being heckled by inebriates in the back of the house Adjective those inebriate sports fans who yell and scream throughout the game
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 group proposed extending the winter shelter through May, boosting treatment for serial inebriates and reporting all homeless incidents and issues to a single coordinator. — Jeff McDonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, 1 Oct. 2017 One of American drama's most intriguing case studies, Hickey is the hardware salesman who returns to his old tawdry haunt not on one of his periodic benders but on a mission to reform the resident inebriates of their belief in a better tomorrow. — Charles McNulty, latimes.com, 10 May 2018
Verb
The authors wondered if this might be because the bats wanted to avoid becoming inebriated. — ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025 The clues are all in his writing, the structure of the sentence, the tracking of it, the fast decline into being inebriated. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Adjective
His slightly inebriate charm has become a consistent moviegoing pleasure. — Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2019 The money covers additional shelter beds, more street outreach, rapid rehousing, safe parking and the serial inebriate program. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for inebriate

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English inebryat, from Latin inebriatus, past participle of inebriare, from in- + ebriare to intoxicate, from ebrius drunk

Noun (2)

Late Latin inebriation-, inebriatio, from inebriatus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inebriate was in the 15th century

Rhymes for inebriate

See All Rhymes for inebriate

Browse Nearby Words

inebriant
inebriate
inebriated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

inebriate

1 of 2 noun
ine·​bri·​ate
in-ˈē-brē-ət
: a person who is drunk
especially : drunkard

inebriate

2 of 2 adjective
ine·​bri·​ate
in-ˈē-brē-ət, 
-ˌāt
: inebriated

Medical Definition

inebriate

1 of 3 transitive verb
ine·​bri·​ate in-ˈē-brē-ˌāt How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
inebriated; inebriating
: to make drunk : intoxicate
inebriation
-ˌē-brē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
noun

inebriate

2 of 3 adjective
ine·​bri·​ate in-ˈē-brē-ət How to pronounce inebriate (audio) -ˌāt How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
1
: affected by alcohol : drunk
2
: addicted to excessive drinking

inebriate

3 of 3 noun
ine·​bri·​ate -ət How to pronounce inebriate (audio)
: one who is drunk
especially : drunkard

More from Merriam-Webster on inebriate

Nglish: Translation of inebriate for Spanish Speakers

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