Definition

1. Noun:
   • An intoxicating substance: An "inebriant" is a substance, typically a beverage containing alcohol, that causes intoxication or drunkenness when consumed.
   • An alcoholic drink: Specifically, it refers to a liquor or brew that has alcohol as its active agent, capable of producing a state of inebriation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The partygoers consumed various inebriants throughout the night.
  • Historically, fermented fruits provided the earliest known inebriants for many cultures.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Formal Context: The term "inebriant" is more formal and less common in everyday speech than words like "alcohol" or "intoxicant." It is often used in medical, legal, or anthropological contexts to describe substances that impair physical and mental control.
  • The study examined the social impact of different cultural inebriants.

Variants and Related Words

• Inebriate (verb): To make someone drunk; to intoxicate.
  • The strong wine quickly inebriated the guests.
• Inebriate (noun): A person who is habitually drunk.
• Inebriation (noun): The state of being drunk; intoxication.
• Inebriety (noun): Habitual drunkenness.

Synonyms

• Intoxicant: A substance that causes intoxication.
• Alcoholic beverage: A drink containing ethanol.
• Spirits: Strong alcoholic drinks (e.g., whiskey, vodka).

Antonyms

• Sobering agent: A substance that counteracts intoxication.
• Non-alcoholic beverage: A drink containing no alcohol.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Under the influence: A common phrase meaning affected by an inebriant (often alcohol or drugs).
  • He was arrested for driving under the influence of an inebriant.

Noun

1. a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent
   • alcohol (or drink) ruined him