Drunk: meaning, definitions and examples

General term used to describe someone who has consumed a lot of alcohol and is heavily affected by it. This word can be neutral or slightly informal.

• He was so drunk he couldn't walk straight
• They got drunk at the party last night

Formal term often used in medical, legal, or professional settings. Indicates someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• The report indicated that he was highly intoxicated
• The police tested her to see if she was intoxicated

More formal word for being drunk. Often used in written or professional contexts, sometimes to add a humorous or sophisticated tone.

• He was clearly inebriated at the dinner party
• The inebriated driver was arrested by the police

Describes a light, mildly drunk state where someone is not heavily affected. Often used in light-hearted, informal contexts.

• Just one glass of wine, and I already feel tipsy
• She was a little tipsy after the dinner

Very informal slang that describes a state of extreme intoxication. Often used in casual or humorous contexts.

• After five shots, she was completely hammered
• They were all hammered by midnight

Used to describe someone who is under the influence of alcohol. It's often used informally and can either be neutral or carry a slight negative connotation.

• He's too drunk to drive.
• She got drunk at the party last night.

Refers to someone who has a chronic addiction to alcohol. This term is clinical and carries a more serious and negative connotation. It is used to describe someone with a dependence on alcohol.

• His father is an alcoholic and needs professional help.
• She joined a support group for alcoholics.

A more formal or old-fashioned term for someone who is drunk. It can sound clinical or literary, and it isn't commonly used in everyday conversation.

• The inebriate stumbled down the street.
• He was behaving like an inebriate after the celebration.

An informal term for someone who is habitually drunk. It is mostly used in a negative and derogatory way.

• He's become a souse since losing his job.
• Nobody wants to hire a souse like him.

An informal and somewhat outdated term that refers to someone who drinks alcohol to excess frequently. It often has a negative and slightly mocking tone.

• He's known as the local lush.
• She was once a lush but has since quit drinking.