alcoholism
noun
, -kÉ™-hÉ™-\
Definition of alcoholism
Note: Alcoholism is typically characterized by the inability to control alcoholic drinking, impairment of the ability to work and socialize, tendency to drink alone and engage in violent behavior, neglect of physical appearance and proper nutrition, alcohol-related illness (such as hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver), and moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms (such as irritability, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and confusion) upon detoxification.
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Synonyms & Antonyms for alcoholism
Synonyms
drunkenness, insobriety, intemperance, intemperateness
Antonyms
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Examples of alcoholism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Under the law, people causing an immediate danger to themselves or others or who are gravely disabled and cannot secure their own food, clothing and shelter because of serious mental illness or chronic alcoholism can be compelled into treatment. — Heather Knight, SFChronicle.com, "Why are more mentally ill people wandering SF streets? Report gives answers," 30 July 2019 After Apollo 11, Aldrin spent years struggling with mental depression and alcoholism. — Washington Post, "Apollo 11’s ‘amiable strangers’ Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins," 13 July 2019 The publishing fortune of her grandparents dissipated into estrangement and alcoholism. — David James, Anchorage Daily News, "‘Look at the bird’: Ornithology and family history intertwine in ‘Blackbird Flying’," 15 June 2019 Elizabeth Fulton, a home economist at Kansas State Normal School, believed pie eating, like alcoholism, was a cause of divorce. — Gabriella Petrick, Smithsonian, "Why Americans Love Their Apple Pie," 21 Aug. 2019 The center played a role in the federal approval of two drugs used to treat chronic alcoholism, naltrexone and acamprosate. — Michael Walsh, courant.com, "Grant Funding Continues For UConn Health’s Alcohol Research Center," 7 Aug. 2019 Oden climbed his way out of alcoholism and has worked on his physical and mental health. — Robert General, Indianapolis Star, "Big 3: Greg Oden reflects on journey back to basketball, returns to Indianapolis with new perspective," 23 June 2019 The year after that, her father died of cirrhosis of the liver and other complications of alcoholism. — oregonlive.com, "The amazing life of Gloria Vanderbilt," 18 June 2019 Thank you for using yourself as an example to teach students about the dangers of alcoholism. — PEOPLE.com, "Valedictorian Calls Out 'Regularly Intoxicated' Teacher and Other Staff in Graduation Speech," 14 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alcoholism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for alcoholism
alcoholism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of alcoholism
See the full definition for alcoholism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
alcoholism
noun
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Kids Definition of alcoholism
alcoholism
noun
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Medical Definition of alcoholism
Note: Alcoholism is typically characterized by the inability to control alcoholic drinking, impairment of the ability to work and socialize, tendency to drink alone and engage in violent behavior, neglect of physical appearance and proper nutrition, alcohol-related illness (such as hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver), and moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms (such as irritability, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and confusion) upon detoxification.
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