white lightning

noun

Definition of white lightningnext
as in alcohol
illegally produced liquor college students secretly mixing up a batch of white lightning in the school lab

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of white lightning One, the stereotype is as dated as Moon Pies and white lightning. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 11 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white lightning
  1. alcohol
  2. booze
  3. bootleg
Noun
  • The singer said that he was first admitted to a Swiss hospital in connection with his alcohol use in November 2023.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • But now Oktoberfest is a proving ground for one of the most profound changes sweeping the global drinks industry as more consumers cut alcohol from their lives.
    — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of alcohol
Noun
  • There's also a full list of wine, beer, and cocktails—not always the case at health spas—though booze is extra.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The partial Canadian ban on US booze has been painful for the American industry.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of booze
Noun
  • And yet, this unlicensed, or bootleg, merchandise is a signature stitch in the fabric of fandom, one that fills an integral role in the live entertainment ecosystem.
    — Matt Martell, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
  • An Adidas collaboration features triple shoelaces tied into a bow, recalling Novruzova’s earlier bootleg designs.
    — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of bootleg

Browse Nearby Words

white knights
white lightning
white lightnings
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“White lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20lightning. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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