inveterate

[ in-vet-er-it ]

adjective

1. settled or confirmed in a habit, practice, feeling, or the like:

   an inveterate gambler.

   Synonyms: habitual, constant, hardened

2. firmly established by long continuance, as a disease, habit, practice, feeling, etc.; chronic.

   Synonyms: rooted, fixed, set

inveterate

/ ɪnˈvɛtərɪt /

adjective

1. long established, esp so as to be deep-rooted or ingrained

   an inveterate feeling of hostility

2. prenominal settled or confirmed in a habit or practice, esp a bad one; hardened

   an inveterate smoker

3. obsolete.
   full of hatred; hostile

Derived Forms

• inˈveterately, adverb
• inˈveteracy, noun

Other Words From

• in·veter·ate·ly adverb
• in·veter·ate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inveterate¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin inveterātus (past participle of inveterāre “to grow old, allow to grow old, preserve”), equivalent to in- in- ² + veter- (stem of vetus “old”) + -ātus -ate ¹; veteran

Word History and Origins

Origin of inveterate¹

C16: from Latin inveterātus of long standing, from inveterāre to make old, from in- ² + vetus old

Example Sentences

But some other inveterate vapers believe that their Juul kickback is fairly earned, if perhaps incongruous with the harm they suffered.

From Slate

The president is having a mental breakdown in “Symphony of Rats,” a 1988 fever dream by the inveterate theatrical bad boy Richard Foreman.

From Los Angeles Times

As for “trafficking in stereotypes,” he was a strong and inveterate antisemite, a sentiment he repeatedly expressed in public, as in his notorious Des Moines speech of September 1941, when he blamed Jewish media control for wanting to bring America to war.

From Salon

Would an inveterate adulterer, careful to keep his worlds apart, let his mistress have free rein in his other life?

From Los Angeles Times

I am because I am an inveterate late-night texter, as you know.

From New York Times

Related Words

• addicted
• habitual
• hard-core
• hardened
• incurable
• lifelong