Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who is habitually drunk; a chronic drinker: A drunkard is someone who frequently consumes alcohol to the point of intoxication. The term emphasizes a habitual pattern of excessive drinking rather than a single instance.

Usage

• The word "drunkard" is a noun used to describe a person. It is more formal and carries a stronger negative connotation than casual terms like "drinker." It often implies a lack of control or a problematic relationship with alcohol.
• It is typically used in descriptive or narrative contexts, rather than as a direct address.

Examples

• The old drunkard was a familiar sight on the park bench.
• He was known in the village as a hopeless drunkard.
• The novel's tragic hero descends into becoming a penniless drunkard.

Advanced Usage

• "A hopeless drunkard": Emphasizes that the person's condition is seen as beyond remedy or improvement.
• "A habitual drunkard": Stresses the repeated, ingrained nature of the drinking behavior. This is close to the core definition.

Variants and Related Words

• Drunk (noun, informal): A person who is intoxicated, especially at a given moment. (e.g., )
• Alcoholic (noun): A person suffering from alcoholism, a medical condition characterized by physical dependence on alcohol. This is a more clinical term.
• Inebriate (noun, formal): A person who is drunk or who drinks habitually to excess.
• Sot (noun, archaic): A habitual drunkard.

Synonyms

• Alcoholic
• Inebriate
• Sot (archaic)
• Lush (slang)
• Wino (slang, specifically for someone who drinks cheap wine)

Antonyms

• Teetotaler: A person who never drinks alcohol.
• Abstainer: A person who refrains from drinking alcohol.

Idioms and Related Phrases

• "To drink like a fish": To drink alcohol heavily and frequently. This idiom describes the behavior of a drunkard.
  • Ever since he lost his job, he's been drinking like a fish.

Noun

1. a chronic drinker