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

• inˈveteracy, noun
• inˈveterately, adverb

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

Due both to the mountainous topography of the county and decades of inveterate deforestation, Haiti is extremely susceptible to heavy rainfall and mudslides.

From Washington Post

The revelation caused a stir, highlighting as it did Russia's ongoing and inveterate digital espionage campaigns.

From Ars Technica

The most ridiculous character in Pay Any Price may be Dennis Montgomery, who is described as an inveterate gambler and swindler.

From The Daily Beast

An inveterate networker, he managed to get Tennessee Williams as the chief signatory on one letter-writing campaign.

From The Daily Beast

This inveterate list maker also loved minutiae; in his copious account books, he kept track of every cent he ever spent.

From The Daily Beast

It gives the best outcomes to the most inveterate bad actors.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Wright fails to mention that Mr. Scarff admitted under oath that he is a self-admitted inveterate liar.

From The Daily Beast

The taint was too inveterate to be eradicated; the evil was immedicable; Rome was already effete and moribund.

From Project Gutenberg

The lessons, where he had a long inveterate habit of shuffling, came under Norman's eye at the same time.

From Project Gutenberg

Austria, on the other hand, had been an old and inveterate rival of France in the race for territorial extension.

From Project Gutenberg

Critias, though formerly a scholar of Socrates, became his most inveterate enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

Remember, they had actually ventured at night into the bush in spite of their inveterate fear of “the spirits.”

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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