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inveterate

adjective
in·​vet·​er·​ate | \ in-ˈve-t(É™-)rÉ™t How to pronounce inveterate (audio) \

Definition of inveterate

1 : firmly established by long persistence the inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious
2 : confirmed in a habit : habitual an inveterate liar
Other Words from inveterate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym The History of Inveterate More Example Sentences Learn More about inveterate

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Other Words from inveterate

inveterately adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for inveterate

inveterate, confirmed, chronic mean firmly established. inveterate applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence as to be practically ineradicable or unalterable. an inveterate smoker confirmed implies a growing stronger and firmer with time so as to resist change or reform. a confirmed bachelor chronic suggests something that is persistent or endlessly recurrent and troublesome. a chronic complainer

The History of Inveterate

Like veteran, inveterate ultimately comes from Latin vetus, which means "old," and which led to the Latin verb inveterare ("to age"). That verb in turn gave rise eventually to the adjective inveteratus, the direct source of our adjective inveterate (in use since the 14th century). In the past, inveterate has meant "long-standing" or simply "old." For example, one 16th-century writer warned of "Those great Flyes which in the springe time of the yeare creepe out of inveterate walls." Today, inveterate most often applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling of such long existence that it is practically ineradicable or unalterable.

Examples of inveterate in a Sentence

his inveterate tendency to overlook the obvious he has an inveterate tendency to tell some very tall tales

Recent Examples on the Web

 In retirement, Cousy coached, worked in television, remained in Worcester with his bride of 63 years (Missie Cousy died in 2013), and became an inveterate reader of books. — Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, "Bob Cousy chose his words very carefully at the White House," 23 Aug. 2019 Yana Paskova for The New York Times Michael Seidenberg, whose clandestine bookshop and literary salon on the Upper East Side was much loved by bibliophiles, literati and inveterate browsers, died on July 8 in a hospital in Danbury, Conn. — Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, "Michael Seidenberg, Who Ran a (Sort of) Secret Bookstore, Dies at 64," 15 July 2019 Like me, an inveterate reader (and avowed feminist) who didn’t read women. — Leonard Pitts Jr - Miami Herald, The Mercury News, "Pitts: Opening up to women’s stories – an argument for intentionality," 9 July 2019 Wally Fong/Associated Press Rip Torn, who earned a glowing reputation as a versatile actor on both stage and screen, but who never quite shed a less savory one as an inveterate troublemaker, died on Tuesday at his home in Lakeville, Conn. — New York Times, "Rip Torn, an Outsize Presence Onstage and Off, Is Dead at 88," 9 July 2019 His father, Ottorino Corsi, was a respected wool and silk merchant but inveterate womanizer, and his mother, Alaide Garosi, was a fashion designer who owned a dressmaking shop. — Jonathan Kandell, New York Times, "Franco Zeffirelli, Italian Director With Taste for Excess, Dies at 96," 15 June 2019 Within a matter of hours, a possible act of anti-auction protest by an inveterate art prankster had been transmogrified by the churning gears of the market into an auction-reifying, value-amplifying piece of monetizable performance art. — Julia Felsenthal, Vogue, "The Price of Everything,," 18 Oct. 2018 To shore up his standing with white evangelicals, the president released lists of potential nominees during the campaign, and has met at least seven people on those lists, though Mr Trump, an inveterate showman, may choose someone else entirely. — The Economist, "A court with a solid conservative majority could reshape American life," 5 July 2018 Grenell, meanwhile, seemed an ideal Trumpist standard-bearer — a former aide to national security adviser John Bolton, a Fox News talking head and an inveterate tormentor of journalists and Democrats on social media. — Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, "The U.S. ambassador in Germany flies the Trumpist flag," 5 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inveterate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of inveterate

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for inveterate

Middle English, from Latin inveteratus, from past participle of inveterare to age (transitive verb), from in- + veter-, vetus old — more at wether

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More Definitions for inveterate

inveterate

adjective
How to pronounce inveterate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of inveterate

formal + often disapproving
: always or often doing something specified
: always or often happening or existing

See the full definition for inveterate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

inveterate

adjective
in·​vet·​er·​ate | \ in-ˈvet-É™-rÉ™t, -ˈve-trÉ™t How to pronounce inveterate (audio) \

Medical Definition of inveterate

1 : marked by long duration or frequent recurrence inveterate bursitis
2 : confirmed in a habit : habitual sense 2 an inveterate smoker

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More from Merriam-Webster on inveterate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inveterate

Spanish Central: Translation of inveterate

Nglish: Translation of inveterate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of inveterate for Arabic Speakers

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