ad·dict
ˈa-(ˌ)dikt 
plural addicts
1
: one exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity
a drug addict
opioid addicts
a gambling addict
2
: one strongly inclined to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly
a television addict
chocolate addicts
addicted; addicting; addicts
Synonyms
Examples of addict in a Sentence
Noun
an inspiring story about addicts who seek help and manage to kick their habit
science-fiction addicts who eagerly await each new installment in the series
Recent Examples on the Web
Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
They were also put to work, emptying puke buckets, and getting cold rags for the addicts lying on couches in communal areas.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
The ins and outs of the Aryan Brotherhood drug underworld — where narcotics could travel from cell to cell or several states over, involving everyone from jailers to drug addicts to attorneys — has surfaced in the racketeering trial for Ronald Dean Yandell, William Sylvester and Danny Troxell.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Most great things are from psychopaths and drug addicts.
—Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024
It was intended to offer a welcoming space for addicts to overcome challenges through emotional and verbal catharsis.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
For 23 years, my sister was involved with a violent alcoholic and drug addict.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Through Michaela, a recovering addict who has lived a hard life, the audience learns that their childhood was scarred by parental loss, abuse and the oppressive power of the church in their lives.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
Inside was a white powder, which Smith, a recovering addict, believed to be cocaine.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Nathan Smith, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Nobody wants their kids to be addicted to their phones.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The younger one, however, was addicted to drugs, dropped out of college and has built up debt trying to realize a dream of becoming a singer.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
On more than one occasion, parents have filed lawsuits against social-media companies alleging their algorithms were designed to keep users scrolling ad infinitum, essentially addicting their children to the platform.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024
Led the Anti Cheese Heroin Campaign that killed 37 teenagers and addicted thousands of young Children.
3.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
And he is charged with knowingly possessing the revolver despite the restrictions against people addicted to drugs owning firearms.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
Newsom’s Proposition 1— a proposal to pump more money into treating homeless people who are mentally ill, drug addicted or alcoholics — may finally pass after vote counting is completed.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And if people got addicted to figuring things out for themselves, they’d be inoculated against having to take the word of whatever bullies happened to be in power.
—Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Bailey: The game was very effective as a therapeutic tool or was found to be very effective with addicts, which was the first population at Synanon.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
They were also put to work, emptying puke buckets, and getting cold rags for the addicts lying on couches in communal areas.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
The ins and outs of the Aryan Brotherhood drug underworld — where narcotics could travel from cell to cell or several states over, involving everyone from jailers to drug addicts to attorneys — has surfaced in the racketeering trial for Ronald Dean Yandell, William Sylvester and Danny Troxell.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Most great things are from psychopaths and drug addicts.
—Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024
It was intended to offer a welcoming space for addicts to overcome challenges through emotional and verbal catharsis.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
For 23 years, my sister was involved with a violent alcoholic and drug addict.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024
Through Michaela, a recovering addict who has lived a hard life, the audience learns that their childhood was scarred by parental loss, abuse and the oppressive power of the church in their lives.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
Inside was a white powder, which Smith, a recovering addict, believed to be cocaine.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
The drug, however, has become a major health issue across the country as its opioid-like effects have led to users being addicted, according to medical experts.
—Nathan Smith, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Nobody wants their kids to be addicted to their phones.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024
The younger one, however, was addicted to drugs, dropped out of college and has built up debt trying to realize a dream of becoming a singer.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
On more than one occasion, parents have filed lawsuits against social-media companies alleging their algorithms were designed to keep users scrolling ad infinitum, essentially addicting their children to the platform.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2024
Led the Anti Cheese Heroin Campaign that killed 37 teenagers and addicted thousands of young Children.
3.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
And he is charged with knowingly possessing the revolver despite the restrictions against people addicted to drugs owning firearms.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
Newsom’s Proposition 1— a proposal to pump more money into treating homeless people who are mentally ill, drug addicted or alcoholics — may finally pass after vote counting is completed.
—George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And if people got addicted to figuring things out for themselves, they’d be inoculated against having to take the word of whatever bullies happened to be in power.
—Kc Cole, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'addict.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Addict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addict. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
addict
1 of 2 verb
ad·dict
ə-ˈdikt
1
: to devote or surrender oneself to something habitually
addicted to detective stories
2
: to cause to make a habit of using a drug
nicotine is addicting
addict
2 of 2 noun
ad·dict
ˈad-(ˌ)ikt
1
: one who is addicted (as to a drug)
2
: a person devoted to something
a TV addict
Medical Definition
addict
2 of 2 noun
ad·dict
ˈad-(ˌ)ikt
: one exhibiting a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity
a drug addict
opioid addicts
a gambling addict
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