July 25, 2012
- inveterate (adjective)
- \in-VET-uh-rut\
- What does it mean?
- 1 : firmly established by age or by long continuation2 : doing or acting out of habit
- How do you use it?
- The defense attorney sought to portray the witness as an inveterate liar who held a grudge against the defendant.
- Are you a word wiz?
Are you in the habit of answering our quizzes? If so, tell us which of these words you think is a synonym of "inveterate."
"Inveterate" and "chronic" both mean firmly established. "Inveterate" applies to a habit, attitude, or feeling that has existed for so long that it's practically unable to be rooted out or changed (as "an inveterate gambler"), while "chronic" suggests something that exists or continues for a long time ("a chronic complainer"). "Confirmed," another synonym, refers to a condition that has grown stronger or firmer with time so that it resists any attempt to change it ("a confirmed bachelor").
