tipsy

adjective

tip·​sy ˈtip-sē How to pronounce tipsy (audio)
tipsier; tipsiest
Synonyms of tipsynext
1
: unsteady, staggering, or foolish from the effects of liquor : fuddled
2
: unsteady, askew
a tipsy angle
tipsily adverb
tipsiness noun

Examples of tipsy in a Sentence

I got a little tipsy at the party last night. our uncle had too much to drink at the wedding and got a little tipsy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Taqueria Hoy remains a refuge for factory workers, restaurant crews, tipsy clubbers, cops, families, insomniacs and others hungry in between. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 Frustrated with her imperfect husband, a tipsy Marge stirs up a trilogy of fantasies of a different Homer. Joe Otterson, Variety, 28 May 2026 Of course, no seder would be complete without everyone sitting at the table at the end of the night, totally stuffed and maybe a little tipsy, to chat and gossip about everyday life. Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026 At a tipsy, intimate dinner with two of their friends mere nights before the wedding, Emma reveals the worst thing she’s ever done. Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tipsy

Word History

Etymology

tip entry 1 + -sy (as in tricksy)

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tipsy was in 1577

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tipsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tipsy. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

tipsy

adjective
tip·​sy ˈtip-sē How to pronounce tipsy (audio)
tipsier; tipsiest
: unsteady or foolish from drinking

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