Addict (n.) refers to a person who is habitually dependent on a substance or activity, often to a detrimental degree. It can also describe a person who is zealously devoted to something. The term connotes dependence, attachment, and a habitual pattern that can be problematic or intensely enthusiastic, depending on context.
- You may default to 'ADdict' with stress on the first syllable; correct to ə-ˈdɪkt. - The final 'ct' cluster often becomes 't' or 'kt' with a short release; ensure a crisp /kt/ rather than an elongated 't' or soft 'c'. - The middle vowel in second syllable can slip to a longer / iː / or a more open / ɛ /; keep it short and lax as in 'kit'. - Jaw and tongue: avoid raising jaw too high; keep a relaxed schwa in first syllable and central tongue position for /ɪ/. - In rapid speech, the sequence /dɪkt/ can fuse; practice with slow enunciated drills then ramp up to natural speed.
US: rhotic with clear /ɪ/ in second syllable; UK: crisper /kt/ with slightly more forward /ɪ/; AU: similar to US but more relaxed intonation and sometimes shorter vowel duration. IPA guidance: US/UK/AU share /əˈdɪkt/ but vowel height and duration can vary. For minimal pairs, compare 'addict' vs 'addicted' to feel the stem-stress difference; ensure /ə/ on first syllable and /ɪ/ on second, then /kt/ release.
"The man became an addict after years of heavy drinking, seeking a way to cope with his cravings."
"She is a tech addict, always checking her phone even during conversations."
"The clinic counsels former addicts on recovery and relapse prevention."
"As a culture, society can be criticized for creating addicts of convenience and instant gratification."
Addict comes from Latin addictus, meaning 'bound to, devoted to, given over to,' from the verb addicere 'to give over, surrender.' The Latin root ad- 'to, toward' plus dicere 'to say, declare' is tied to the sense of binding someone by debt, obligation, or allegiance. In late Middle English, addict evolved to denote someone bound by habit or devotion, often in the context of a compulsory indulgence (as with an addiction to substances or activities). The modern sense crystallized in the 19th century with medical and sociological usage to describe compulsive dependence patterns, particularly substance use. The term also extended metaphorically to describe ardent enthusiasts (an addict of sports, art, etc.), though its primary association remains with compulsive dependence and the social/health implications therein. First known use as a person bound by habit appears in 16th–17th centuries, with the modern medical/psychological sense taking stronger root in the 1800s and 1900s as addiction studies emerged.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Addict" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Addict"
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Pronounced ə-DIHTK, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: əˈdɪkt. Start with a schwa syllable, then a short I vowel, and end with a crisp 'kt' cluster. Mouth: relaxed lips for the first syllable, tongue high-mid for the vowel, and final tongue tip against the alveolar ridge as you release a voiceless 't' into a syllabic 'k' closure. (Audio: reference you can compare: Cambridge or Forvo entry for 'addict'.)
Common errors: misplacing the stress (say a-DICT instead of ə-DICT); pronouncing the final consonant as 'd' or 't' in isolation (it is a voiceless kt cluster, not a pure 't' or 'k'); vowel quality in the first unstressed syllable can become a pronounced 'uh' vs. a weaker schwa. Correction tips: keep the first syllable as a light schwa (ə), then clearly articulate the /dɪ/ portion with a short, lax vowel, and release the final /kt/ as a quick voiceless sequence. Practice with minimal pairs like 'credit' without the 'r' to feel the /dɪkt/ ending.
US, UK, and AU all share əˈdɪkt, but rhythm and vowel length vary subtly. US tends to be slightly flatter with less vowel reduction in casual speech; UK often features a crisper final /kt/ and a tad more precise alveolar contact; AU typically mirrors US patterns but can show broader vowel color and a more relaxed final consonant release in casual speech. All forms keep the /dɪ/ sequence and final /kt/. IPA: US/UK/AU: əˈdɪkt.
The difficulty lies in the final 'ct' cluster. The combination of /d/ and /t/ without an audible vowel between them can blur for non-native speakers, making the ending feel like a single sound. Mastery requires crisp alveolar closure transitioning from /d/ to the voiceless /k/ and /t/ release, especially in connected speech where the syllable boundary isn't clear. Practice with careful isolation of the /dɪkt/ sequence and gradual speed work.
The key is the stress placement and the /kt/ cluster at the end. Ensure the second syllable carries primary stress and the final /t/ is not overly aspirated; instead, produce a clean /kt/ release. Also monitor the vowel in the second syllable: /ɪ/ as in 'kit' rather than a lax schwa. This combination—ə-ˈdɪkt—produces a natural, native-feeling pronunciation.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Addict"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying 'addict' in context; repeat in real time, mirroring intonation and pace. - Minimal pairs: 'addict' vs 'addicts' (stress and plural) and 'indict' (similar ending but initial consonant differs) to highlight /dɪkt/ ending. - Rhythm: practice 4-beat phrases to place the word at the mid-intonation peak. - Stress: drill with sentence frames to stress the second syllable: 'He is an adDICT who keeps his habit.' - Recording: record pronounce-and-playback with a metronome to pace gradual speed increases.
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