“Drunk” vs. “Drunken”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “drunk” and “drunken”

  • "Drunken" is an adjective, but "drunk" can be an adjective, verb, or noun.
  • As adjectives, "drunk" means the state in which one is affected by alcohol, while "drunken" typically describes the behavior or actions resulting from being drunk.
  • While "drunk" is commonly used as an adjective to describe a person, "drunken" is used to describe actions, behavior, the person themselves, or situations associated with alcohol intoxication.
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What is the definition of “drunk” and “drunken”?

Drunk
  • "Drunk" is an adjective that describes a person who has consumed alcohol to the extent that their mental and physical abilities are impaired.
  • It refers to the state of being intoxicated or inebriated due to the consumption of alcohol.
  • Being drunk is often associated with symptoms such as slurred speech, impaired judgment, loss of coordination, and altered behavior.
Drunken
  • "Drunken" is an adjective that describes an action, behavior, person, or state resulting from the consumption of alcohol.
  • It is often used to characterize the way someone behaves or acts while under the influence of alcohol.
  • "Drunken" typically refers to the effects or manifestations of being drunk, such as drunken laughter, drunken dancing, or drunken behavior.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Drunk” is the more popular variant on the web.
More popular
Drunk
266,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. He stumbled out of the bar, clearly drunk after a night of heavy drinking.
  2. She regretted sending that text message while she was drunk; it was filled with embarrassing typos.
  3. The police officer pulled over the drunk driver for swerving across lanes.
Drunken
51,300,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The drunken man stumbled out of the bar and into the street.
  2. The party turned into a drunken debauchery as the night wore on.
  3. She was arrested for drunken behavior in public.
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