intoxicate

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

Definition of intoxicate

archaic

:intoxicated 1

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First Known Use of intoxicate

1581

intoxicate

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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

Officers arrested the Auburn driver on investigation of vehicular homicide; police suspect he was intoxicated at the time of the crash, the news release says.

— sara jean green, The Seattle Times, "Motorcyclist killed in Kent by suspected drunken driver," 23 Aug. 2017
The idea that vaping mitigates the risk of smoking could make people more likely to intoxicate themselves, more often, et cetera.

— james hamblin, The Atlantic, "Smoking Versus Edibles," 18 Aug. 2017
Vehicular homicide while driving intoxicated carries a prison sentence of five to 10 years.

— joseph a. slobodzian, Philly.com, "Delco man pleads no contest in hit-run death of disabled homeless vet," 17 Aug. 2017
Toxicology reports showed Fernández, 24, was intoxicated during the 3 a.m. crash, which flipped his 32-foot powerboat onto the rocks and killed passengers Eduardo Rivero, 26, and Emilio Jesus Macias, 27.

— douglas hanks, miamiherald, "Lights on jetty where José Fernández died could confuse boaters, Coast Guard says," 30 June 2017
A man accused of driving intoxicated was arrested in crash that left a pedestrian with serious injuries in Kearny Mesa Friday night.

— david hernandez, sandiegouniontribune.com, "DUI suspect arrested in Kearny Mesa pedestrian crash," 30 June 2017
A driver who police say was intoxicated crashed his truck into a TriMet bus shelter and concrete barrier early Thursday.

— the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Driver hits TriMet bus shelter, arrested for DUI," 29 June 2017
Months later, Odom was removed from a flight after he was presumably intoxicated.

— nicole moschella, ajc, "Lamar Odom opens up about Khloe Kardashian, his journey into sobriety, night he overdosed," 29 June 2017
A CHP officer wrote sobriety tests were conducted and was believed to be intoxicated.

— neal putnam, Ramona Sentinel, "Ramona man pleads guilty in head-on fatal," 22 June 2017

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

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intoxicate Synonyms

Synonyms

charge, electrify, excite, exhilarate, galvanize, thrill, pump up, titillate, turn on

Antonyms

depress

Related Words

arouse, incite, inspire, provoke, stimulate; bewitch, captivate, charm, delight, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), hypnotize, mesmerize, rivet, spellbind; interest, intrigue, tantalize

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary; deject, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

INTOXICATE Defined for English Language Learners

intoxicate

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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

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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

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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

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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