If you describe someone as, for example, an inveterate liar or smoker, you mean that they have lied or smoked for a long time and are not likely to stop doing it.
...an inveterate gambler.
...the inveterate laziness of these boys.
Synonyms: deep-rooted, entrenched, ingrained, deep-seated More Synonyms of inveterate
More Synonyms of inveterate
inveterate in British English
(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
inveteracy (inˈveteracy) or inveterateness (inˈveterateness)
noun
inveterately (inˈveterately)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Latin inveterātus of long standing, from inveterāre to make old, from in-2 + vetus old
inveterate in American English
(ɪnˈvɛtərɪt)
adjective
1.
firmly established over a long period; of long standing; deep-rooted
2.
settled in a habit, practice, prejudice, etc.; habitual
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈchronic
Derived forms
inveteracy (inˈveteracy)
noun
inveterately (inˈveterately)
adverb
Word origin
L inveteratus, pp. of inveterare, to make or become old < in-, in + vetus, old: see veteran
Examples of 'inveterate' in a sentence
inveterate
No,' said Tommy, who was an inveterate gossip with a nose like Lassie when it came to scandal.
Cathy Kelly JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
From then on he became an inveterate boat-dealer, a habit he preferred to keep secret by indulging it in other towns.
Philip Marsden THE MAIN CAGES (2002)
`My home, my ancestral home, my old and inveterate Garay Street home!
various (2002)
1 (adjective)
Definition
confirmed in a habit or practice
an inveterate liar
Synonyms
chronic
He has always been a chronic smoker.
confirmed
I'm a confirmed bachelor.
incurable
He's an incurable romantic.
hardened
hardened criminals
established
long-standing
hard-core
a hard-core group of right-wing senators
habitual
Three out of four of them would become habitual criminals.
obstinate
incorrigible
Gamblers are incorrigible optimists.
dyed-in-the-wool
ineradicable
deep-dyed
2 (adjective)
Definition
deep-rooted or ingrained
the inveterate laziness of these boys
Synonyms
deep-rooted
long-term solutions to a deep-seated problem
entrenched
the country's entrenched business practices
ingrained
Morals tend to be deeply ingrained.
deep-seated
incurable
established
3 (adjective)
Definition
deep-rooted or ingrained
the spirit of an inveterate Tory
Synonyms
staunch
long-standing
dyed-in-the-wool
He was a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.
deep-dyed usually derogatory)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of confirmed
Definition
long-established in a habit or condition
I'm a confirmed bachelor.
Synonyms
long-established,
seasoned,
rooted,
chronic,
hardened,
habitual,
ingrained,
inveterate,
inured,
dyed-in-the-wool
in the sense of dyed-in-the-wool
Definition
having strong and unchanging attitudes or opinions
He was a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.
Synonyms
confirmed,
complete,
established,
entrenched,
die-hard,
deep-rooted,
through-and-through,
inveterate,
deep-dyed
in the sense of entrenched
the country's entrenched business practices
Synonyms
fixed,
set,
firm,
rooted,
well-established,
ingrained,
deep-seated,
deep-rooted,
indelible,
unshakeable or unshakable,
ineradicable
Nearby words of
inveterate
investigator
investiture
investment
inveterate
invidious
invigilate
invigorate
Synonyms of 'inveterate'
inveterate
Explore 'inveterate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of habitual
Definition
by habit
Three out of four of them would become habitual criminals.
Synonyms
persistent,
established,
confirmed,
constant,
frequent,
chronic,
hardened,
recurrent,
ingrained,
inveterate
in the sense of hard-core
Definition
extremely committed or fanatical
a hard-core group of right-wing senators
Synonyms
dyed-in-the-wool,
extreme,
dedicated,
rigid,
staunch,
die-hard,
steadfast,
obstinate,
intransigent,
swivel-eyed (slang)
in the sense of hardened
hardened criminals
Synonyms
habitual,
set,
fixed,
chronic,
shameless,
inveterate,
incorrigible,
reprobate,
irredeemable,
badass (slang, US)
in the sense of incorrigible
Definition
(of a person or behaviour) beyond correction or reform
Gamblers are incorrigible optimists.
Synonyms
incurable,
hardened,
hopeless,
intractable,
inveterate,
unreformed,
irredeemable
in the sense of incurable
Definition
not able to be changed
He's an incurable romantic.
Synonyms
incorrigible,
hopeless,
inveterate,
dyed-in-the-wool
in the sense of ingrained
Definition
(of a habit, feeling, or belief) deeply impressed or instilled