What does crapulous mean?
Crapulous is an adjective describing someone marked by gross excess in eating or drinking — or, more specifically, someone suffering the miserable aftermath of such indulgence. It derives ultimately from the Greek kraipalē, meaning the headache and nausea that follow a night of heavy drinking, which the Romans adopted as crapula. The word entered English in the sixteenth century and has since remained a rare but delightful term, prized precisely for its blend of erudition and low subject matter: it allows a writer to describe a hangover in Latinate splendor. Today it appears mostly in humorous or deliberately formal contexts, as when a columnist confesses to feeling 'thoroughly crapulous' after New Year's Eve. Its derivatives include the noun crapulence. Though obscure, it endures as a favorite of vocabulary lovers who enjoy words that dignify our least dignified moments.
adjectiveGiven to or characterized by gross excess in eating or drinking; suffering the effects of overindulgence, especially from drink.
- Characterized by gross excess in eating or drinking.
- Suffering the ill effects of overindulgence, especially a hangover.
"He awoke crapulous and ashamed after the office holiday party."
"The novel's protagonist leads a crapulous existence of lavish banquets and bottomless wine."
"She stumbled into work feeling distinctly crapulous after her cousin's wedding."
Crapulous comes from Latin 'crapula,' meaning both 'drunkenness' and 'the hangover that follows' — so it's one of the few English words built for describing exactly how you feel the morning after.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crapulous
Crapulous traces back through Late Latin crapula ('drunkenness, the effects of drunkenness') to Greek kraipalē, meaning the headache and queasiness following intoxication. It entered English in the mid-sixteenth century, initially referring to drunkenness itself before shifting toward the general sense of excess and its aftermath. Cognate forms include crapulence and crapulent, all preserving the same root.
Related word forms
How crapulous is actually used
Formal and somewhat archaic or humorous in tone; often used playfully to describe a hangover with mock dignity. Rare in everyday speech but beloved by word enthusiasts.
Easily confused with crapulous
Scrupulous means diligent and morally careful, while crapulous means given to excessive eating and drinking.