addict

13 synonyms and 3 antonyms for addict, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

user fit hook

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

enthusiast dedicate devote adapt

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

junkie devotee abuser fiend wastoid consecrate

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it.

“The clinic offers support for recovering addicts.”

junkie user enthusiast devotee abuser fiend wastoid consecrate dedicate devote adapt fit

Opposites

abstainer mainstreamer nonaddict

2. verb

To cause someone to become dependent on something, or to become dependent oneself.

“The drug is designed to relieve pain without addicting the patient.”

hook

How to use addict

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

drug addict recovering addict self-confessed addict

The casual sense ("chocolate addict," "gym addict") is informal and much lighter than the clinical meaning.

Etymology

From Latin addictus, past participle of addicere, "to award or bind someone to something" — originally a legal term for a court assigning a person to another's service.

Full origin of addict →

Frequently asked questions

What does “addict” mean?

The word “addict” means a person who is dependent on a harmful substance and cannot easily stop using it. In plain terms, someone who is dependent on a substance, or, loosely, someone with an intense enthusiasm for something.

How do you pronounce “addict”?

“Addict” is pronounced AD-ihkt (/ˈæd.ɪkt/ in IPA).

How do you use “addict” in a sentence?

Here is “addict” used in a sentence: “The clinic offers support for recovering addicts.”

What is another word for “addict”?

Words with a similar meaning to “addict” include abuser, fiend, wastoid, consecrate, dedicate and devote.

What is the opposite of “addict”?

The opposite of “addict” — its antonyms — are abstainer, mainstreamer and nonaddict.

What part of speech is “addict”?

Depending on how it is used, “addict” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “addict” come from?

The word “addict” comes from Latin. From Latin addictus, past participle of addicere, "to award or bind someone to something" — originally a legal term for a court assigning a person to another's service.

Is “addict” a common word?

“Addict” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between an addict and someone who is addicted?

Addict is a noun referring to a person dependent on a harmful substance or, informally, someone with a strong enthusiasm for something, such as a "chocolate addict." Addicted is the adjective describing the state of being dependent, as in "he is addicted to the substance."

Is calling someone an addict considered informal or clinical?

When addict refers to substance dependence it can sound blunt or informal, and many clinical and public health contexts now prefer phrases like "person with an addiction." The informal sense, describing strong enthusiasm for a hobby or activity, is casual and non-clinical.

Can addict be used as a verb as well as a noun?

Yes, addict can function as a verb meaning to cause someone to become dependent on something, or to become dependent oneself, though the noun form is far more common in everyday use. The verb form appears mainly in more formal or explanatory writing.

People also searched

fit useR hook adapt devote dedicate enthusiast junkie nonaddict mainstreamer abuser consecrate

Nearby words

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