intoxicate

adjective in·tox·i·cate \ in-ˈtäk-si-kət \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: intoxicate in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of intoxicate

archaic

: intoxicated 1

intoxicate was our Word of the Day on 05/07/2010. Hear the podcast!

First Known Use of intoxicate

1581

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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intoxicate

verb in·tox·i·cate \ in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt \

Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated; intoxicating

transitive verb

1 : poison

2 a : to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished

b : to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy

See intoxicate defined for English-language learners

See intoxicate defined for kids

Examples of intoxicate in a Sentence

The little bit of beer I drank was not enough to intoxicate me.
the stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators

Recent Examples of intoxicate from the Web

Family members told officers the man may have been intoxicated, according to the release.

— rick kambic, chicagotribune.com, "Man taken into custody after standoff in Vernon Hills, police say," 9 July 2018
Several residents told authorities Washington was intoxicated most of the time, causing her to give out medication to the wrong patient, the wrong dosage of medication or not give any medication at all, according to records.

— kelsey mo, azcentral, "2 suspected of abusing disabled adults in El Mirage unlicensed care facility," 2 July 2018
Allsup had been arrested Oct. 5 after he was found passed out and allegedly intoxicated on the Kennesaw State campus.

— campbell lutz, ajc, "Former KSU professor accused of having pipe bomb in his SUV," 11 July 2018
The lore and romance of Dem Bums is intoxicating, the players memorable: Jackie and The Duke, Campy and Preacher and PeeWee.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: What's on your bucket list, Cincinnati sports fans?," 14 June 2018
And while everyone loves a good flower perfume, this has been a strange turn for the Oman line, which made its name with dank, intoxicating elixirs of oud and amber with mythical names like Memoir, Fate and Epic.

— New York Times, "This Summer, Smell Like Fruit Salad," 2 July 2018
The federal Wartime Prohibition Act banned the sale of intoxicating beverages at midnight on June 30, 1919, six months before the 18th Amendment took effect.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "July 1, 1919: Prohibition begins," 1 July 2018
The incident started when Robinson arrived at Patrick Cudahy, 1 Sweet Apple Wood Lane, on June 9 allegedly intoxicated.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Patrick Cudahy employee shows up drunk, tells police he'd shoot them if he had a gun," 20 June 2018
The jurors found Hill mostly at fault because he was intoxicated at the time of his death and believe Deputy Newman did not use excessive force, even though Newman shot through Hill’s garage door four times, striking him in the head and abdomen.

— niki mcgloster, Essence.com, "Jury Leaves Many Stunned After It Awards $4 To The Family Of Man Killed By A Sheriff’s Deputy," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intoxicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

For those who think that alcohol and drugs qualify as poisons, the history of intoxicate offers some etymological evidence to bolster your argument. Intoxicate traces back to toxicum, the Latin word for "poison" - and the earliest meaning of intoxicate was just that: "to poison." This sense is now extremely rare, and we currently talk about such harmless things as flowers and perfume having the power to intoxicate. Toxicum turns up in the etymologies of a number of other English words including toxic ("poisonous"), intoxicant ("something that intoxicates") and detoxify ("to remove a poison from"), as well as a number of the names for various poisons themselves.

Origin and Etymology of intoxicate

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare, from Latin in- + toxicum poison — more at toxic

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First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

intoxicate Synonyms

INTOXICATE Defined for English Language Learners

intoxicate

verb

Definition of intoxicate for English Language Learners

of alcohol, a drug, etc. : to make (someone) unable to think and behave normally
: to excite or please (someone) in a way that suggests the effect of alcohol or a drug

INTOXICATE Defined for Kids

intoxicate

verb in·tox·i·cate \ in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt \

Definition of intoxicate for Students

intoxicated; intoxicating

1 : to affect by alcohol or a drug especially so that normal thinking and acting becomes difficult or impossible : make drunk

2 : to make wildly excited or enthusiastic

Intoxicated as he was with the heavens, he couldn't imagine needing anything on earth.
—Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia

Medical Dictionary

intoxicate

transitive verb in·tox·i·cate \ -sə-ˌkāt \

medical Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated; intoxicating

1 : poison

2 : to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished

Law Dictionary

intoxicate

transitive verb in·tox·i·cate \ in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt \

legal Definition of intoxicate

intoxicated; intoxicating

: to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished — see also driving under the influence