al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯ-lik 
-ˈhä-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
an alcoholic odor
b
: containing alcohol
an alcoholic beverage
2
: affected with alcoholism
: a person affected with alcoholism
Synonyms
Examples of alcoholic in a Sentence
Adjective
a slightly more alcoholic wine
She has an alcoholic uncle.
Noun
Her uncle is an alcoholic.
one can be a social drinker without turning into an alcoholic
Recent Examples on the Web
Chad De Guzman, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
The rule was set to expire next year after the state temporarily authorized the sale of to-go alcoholic drinks during the pandemic.
—Maysoon Khan, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Another cop found marijuana and an open alcoholic drink in the car.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Officers contacted a man who smelled of alcoholic beverage and had bloodshot watery eyes.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
The name is a metaphor for the scrappy, tenacious unlicensed private detectives at the center of the show: Hank (Donal Logue), the alcoholic ex-cop, and his ex-con best friend Bitt (Michael Raymond-James).
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024
But some public spaces, such as Loose Park in Kansas City, prohibit alcoholic beverages on public property.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In A Bit of Light, Paquin stars as an alcoholic mother who loses custody of her kids and has to rebuild her life while also finally confronting her past.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The study also found that binge drinking had a significant impact — women who drank more than three alcoholic drinks in a day were 68% more likely to get heart disease than those who didn't.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
In 1958, Dederich — a recovering alcoholic — opened a storefront drug rehabilitation program in Santa Monica, California.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Patrick Casey Richard Joseph Paul played Patrick, a movie composer and a recovering alcoholic.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Most people aren’t problem gamblers, just as most people can navigate a world of beer ads without becoming alcoholics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
At the time, Washington was down on his luck and an alcoholic, and was living at Mizell’s sister’s house.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
The veteran actor has faced many creative challenges over the years, though Dr. Webber’s arc as a recovering alcoholic hit especially close to home.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2024
An encounter with the shy young son of a town alcoholic the same day further stirs up Bill’s vulnerability.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Regarding the current behavior of the letter writer’s father-in-law, the whole family will need to get well — not just the alcoholic.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Patients must not be given alcoholic drinks to cool down.
—Chad De Guzman, TIME, 24 Apr. 2024
The rule was set to expire next year after the state temporarily authorized the sale of to-go alcoholic drinks during the pandemic.
—Maysoon Khan, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024
Another cop found marijuana and an open alcoholic drink in the car.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2024
Officers contacted a man who smelled of alcoholic beverage and had bloodshot watery eyes.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024
The name is a metaphor for the scrappy, tenacious unlicensed private detectives at the center of the show: Hank (Donal Logue), the alcoholic ex-cop, and his ex-con best friend Bitt (Michael Raymond-James).
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024
But some public spaces, such as Loose Park in Kansas City, prohibit alcoholic beverages on public property.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 12 Apr. 2024
In A Bit of Light, Paquin stars as an alcoholic mother who loses custody of her kids and has to rebuild her life while also finally confronting her past.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Apr. 2024
The study also found that binge drinking had a significant impact — women who drank more than three alcoholic drinks in a day were 68% more likely to get heart disease than those who didn't.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Lampoon people are alcoholics who end up writing Animal House.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
In 1958, Dederich — a recovering alcoholic — opened a storefront drug rehabilitation program in Santa Monica, California.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Patrick Casey Richard Joseph Paul played Patrick, a movie composer and a recovering alcoholic.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Most people aren’t problem gamblers, just as most people can navigate a world of beer ads without becoming alcoholics.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
At the time, Washington was down on his luck and an alcoholic, and was living at Mizell’s sister’s house.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2024
The veteran actor has faced many creative challenges over the years, though Dr. Webber’s arc as a recovering alcoholic hit especially close to home.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2024
An encounter with the shy young son of a town alcoholic the same day further stirs up Bill’s vulnerability.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024
Regarding the current behavior of the letter writer’s father-in-law, the whole family will need to get well — not just the alcoholic.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alcoholic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near alcoholic
Cite this Entry
“Alcoholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alcoholic. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alcoholic
1 of 2 adjective
al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik
-ˈhäl-
1
: of, relating to, or containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholic
2 of 2 noun
: a person affected with alcoholism
Medical Definition
alcoholic
1 of 2 adjective
al·co·hol·ic
ˌal-kə-ˈhȯl-ik, -ˈhäl-
1
a
: of, relating to, or caused by alcohol
alcoholic hepatitis
b
: containing alcohol
2
: affected with alcoholism
alcoholic
2 of 2 noun
: one affected with alcoholism
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