inveterate
Settled beyond change
Inveterate describes habits, attitudes, or behaviors so deeply established they seem permanent.
An inveterate liar lies compulsively; an inveterate gambler can't stop.
The word often appears with negative habits but can describe any long-standing pattern: an inveterate collector, an inveterate optimist.
Unlike habitual, inveterate suggests the trait has become part of someone's character.
Existing for ages
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- perpetualLasting without interruption
- continuousWithout pause or gap
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
relentless · unceasing · perennial · enduring · lasting · incurable · confirmed · hardened
Firmly established within
- rootedFirmly established in place
- embeddedSet firmly within something
- fixedRestored or immovable
- ingrainedFirmly established by habit
anchored · immovable · unshakable · deep-rooted · intractable · obstinate · unchangeable · permanent
Regular sequence of actions
- customaryDone by convention
- regularOccurring at fixed intervals
- accustomedAdapted through habit
- habitualDone by routine
repetitive · automatic · unvarying · steady · constant · established · settled · traditional
Consumed by fixation
- addictedCompulsively reliant on something
- hookedDeeply dependent or bent
- dependentRequiring outside support
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
uncontrollable · irresistible · pathological · habituated · enslaved · devoted · fanatical · incessant
long-standing
Existing for ages
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- perpetualLasting without interruption
- continuousWithout pause or gap
unrelenting · relentless · unceasing · perennial · enduring · lasting · incurable · confirmed · hardened · lifelong
deep-seated
Firmly established within
ingrained · anchored · immovable · unshakable · deep-rooted · intractable · obstinate · unchangeable · permanent · hardwired
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- customaryDone by convention
- regularOccurring at fixed intervals
- accustomedAdapted through habit
habitual · repetitive · automatic · unvarying · steady · constant · established · settled · traditional · conventional
obsessive
Consumed by fixation
- addictedCompulsively reliant on something
- hookedDeeply dependent or bent
- dependentRequiring outside support
driven · uncontrollable · irresistible · pathological · habituated · enslaved · devoted · fanatical · incessant · consumed
- deeply rootedingrained, entrenched, deep-seated, rooted, embedded
inveteratetemporary
Limited in duration
transient · fleeting · ephemeral · short-lived · new
inveterateincipient
Starting to develop
nascent · fledgling · budding · unformed · undeveloped
inveterateoccasional
Happening at intervals
unhabituated · casual · sporadic · infrequent · unaccustomed
veteran, venerable, venerate, venerated, veneration, venerating