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 Avoiding hangovers and the effects of drunkenness were also commonly cited. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 Authorities say Kristina Lopez Lujan is now charged with simple battery, public drunkenness, and disorderly conduct. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 12 June 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 Rather, a lengthy process can be initiated to remove a member from office for gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, or other misconduct, the Ohio School Board Association stated. — Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2026 He was detained again in 2017 for an assault in Queens, then six months later arrested for suspicion of public drunkenness in Georgia. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drunkenness
  1. alcoholism
  2. inebriation
  3. intoxication
Noun
  • Genetic deviations that impair the processing of alcohol turn out to be associated with lower rates of alcoholism.
    — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Other contributing factors included hypertensive cardiovascular disease and cirrhosis due to alcoholism.
    — Sofi Zeman August 25, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 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
  • Police reportedly recovered two knives, while Stevens was arrested on complaints of assault with a deadly weapon and public intoxication, according to Howard.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Reddington agreed that voluntary intoxication instructions should be removed.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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