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Glite Dictionary
speed freak

speed freak

2 9.6
A person who often uses drugs that make you more active, like amphetamines
  • noun
  • /spiːd friːk/
  • Offensive
translation icon : yonqui
  • Many speed freaks struggle to keep their addiction a secret from their friends and family.

Examples

  • Eddie was a speed freak, a Methedrine addict.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • His father is also a speed freak.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • ("Tweakers" is their word for speed freaks.)

    Fiction book (1997)

  • Then Sage lifts Beechnut, granted he was a speed freak and really skinny with no teeth either, and puts him in Andy's arms and starts to reset the drum kit.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • After years of using drugs, he realized he had become a speed freak reliant on stimulants to get through the day.

  • In the underground community, a speed freak often shares tips about the best methods to obtain their next fix.

Synonyms

junkie
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
194 8.6

A person who is addicted to illegal drugs, often called in an insulting way

highlights addiction to stimulant drugs specifically rather than illegal drugs broadly
drug addict
vsspeed freak
  • NSFW
97 3.0

A person who cannot stop using illegal or harmful drugs

is specifically about dependence on stimulant drugs rather than any controlled drug
user
vsspeed freak
  • NSFW
86 7.5

A person who regularly takes illegal or addictive drugs

implies addiction to stimulants rather than mere regular consumption
drug user
vsspeed freak
  • NSFW
31 3.7

A person who takes illegal or recreational drugs

is narrower, referring specifically to habitual use of stimulant drugs
dope fiend
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
7 9.9

A person who cannot stop using illegal drugs, often said in an insulting way

is similar in meaning but is neutral and focused on stimulant substances
tweaker
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
5 9.9

An insulting word for a person who uses a strong illegal drug and acts in a nervous, uncontrolled way

refers to habitual stimulant use without highlighting nervous or erratic behaviour
methhead
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who is addicted to the drug meth

refers to addiction to stimulant drugs generally rather than one named drug
junky
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
1 9.6

A person who uses illegal drugs and cannot stop

is limited to stimulant addiction and not to narcotics or all illegal drugs
druggie
vsspeed freak
  • Offensive
1 9.2

Having the look or behavior of people who use illegal drugs

focuses on habitual stimulant use rather than general association with drugs

Antonyms

non-user
4.1

A person who does not use a certain product, service or substance

How Addicted

addict
  • NSFW
316 4.3
speed freak
  • Offensive
2 9.6
drug user
  • NSFW
31 3.7
user
  • NSFW
86 7.5

Surface Forms

speed freak singular
speed freaks plural

Morphology

speed + freak

The meaning is directly compositional: 'speed' (the drug) + 'freak' (someone fanatically involved) yields a person extremely involved with or addicted to speed. A B1 learner who knows both constituent senses can reasonably infer 'speed freak' refers to someone who habitually uses or is obsessed with the drug, so the phrase is transparent.

Etymology

Speed freak may come from old slang where speed named a strong stimulant drug and freak called someone who was obsessed or wild; imagine a person who is 'crazy for speed'. That's why the phrase now means 'a person who is addicted to stimulant drugs'.