inebriety

I1N1E1B3R1I1E1T1Y4
/ˌɪ.nɪˈbɹaɪ.ɪ.ti/

noun

The state of being inebriated; inebriation, drunkenness.

Scrabble 14

Meanings

nouninebriety (countable and uncountable, plural inebrieties)

plural inebrieties

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being inebriated; inebriation, drunkenness.

    As she thought less of his inebriety, she thought more of his inconstancy and presumption […]

    1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 15, in Emma: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC
    3 more examples

    It is a just observation of a very celebrated author, that in proportion as every country is barbarous, it is addicted to inebriety. Were the people of England to be judged of by this standard, it is much to be feared, that our national character would be none of the most amiable.

    1767, Hugh Kelly, The Babler, volume 2, number 67, page 7

    Our ship was now wholly given up to every species of riot and debauchery. The grossest licentiousness and the most shameful inebriety prevailed, with occasional and but short-lived interruptions, through the whole period of her stay.

    1846, Herman Melville, chapter 2, in Typee

    Generally, as I have said, my inebrieties were nocturnal only, and the day paid the penalty of the night’s excess.

    1885, Henry Taylor, chapter 3, in Autobiography, volume 1, London: Longmans, Green & Co, page 44

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna temporary state resulting from excessive consumption of alcohol

Broader
temporary state

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

inebriety. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inebriety

MLA

“inebriety.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inebriety. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inebriety,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inebriety.

Source: inebriety on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.