1. relating to or characteristic of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, festivity, and theater; marked by wild revelry, ecstasy, or uninhibited pleasure
Usage: often capitalized when referring directly to the god or his cult; frequently used in contrast with 'Apollonian' to describe opposing human impulses
2. devoted to or celebrating wine, festivity, and sensual enjoyment
Usage: lowercase usage; more general application

Examples

• The festival had a dionysian atmosphere, with music, dancing, and wine flowing freely.
• His dionysian approach to life contrasted sharply with his brother's disciplined, apollonian nature.
• The ancient Greeks honored Dionysus with dionysian rituals and theatrical performances.
• The party descended into dionysian excess as the night wore on.
• She rejected the dionysian lifestyle in favor of a more measured and philosophical existence.
• The dionysian elements in the play—chaos, passion, and transformation—drove the narrative forward.