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Dipsomaniac comes from the Greek noun dipsa, "thirst", but thirst usually has nothing to do with it. Some experts distinguish between an alcoholic and a dipsomaniac, reserving dipsomaniac for someone involved in frequent episodes of binge drinking and blackouts. In any case, there are plenty of less respectful words for a person of similar habits: sot, lush, wino, souse, boozer, guzzler, tippler, tosspot, drunkard, boozehound--the list goes on and on and on.
Examples of dipsomania in a Sentence
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Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, 23 Jan. 2016
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Noun
While anxious weirdos were sprinting to the Piggly Wiggly to stock up on Wonder Bread and milk before the impending snowstorm hit, savvy folks focused more on their looming dipsomania.
—Aaron Goldfarb, Esquire, 23 Jan. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Dipsomania.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dipsomania. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
dipsomania
noun
dip·so·ma·nia
ˌdip-sə-ˈmā-nē-ə, -nyə 
: an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic liquors
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