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

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

Trump is an inveterate liar about his fortune.

From Salon

An inveterate fern fanatic, Steffen highly recommends their form and soft texture for the romantic garden.

From Seattle Times

An inveterate fabulist who remains terrified of his father, Casimir seems to have invented the wife and three children whom the family has never met.

From New York Times

The role of Celie, however, remains consistent — one of inveterate trauma, stretched over decades of abuse by first her stepfather, then her husband, until she manufactures the strength to stand on her own.

From New York Times

Related Words

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