Definition of intoxicate
archaic
: intoxicated 1
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intoxicate was our Word of the Day on 05/07/2010. Hear the podcast!
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First Known Use of intoxicate
1581
Definition of intoxicate
intoxicated;
intoxicating
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
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
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Pleasing to the eye, delightful to the touch, and intoxicating to the nose, the peony is a springtime treat on par with [your favorite springtime treat, if not already the peony].
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Last year, the Chicago Police Department revised its Taser policy, advising officers not to shock people who run away, are intoxicated or could fall and suffer a head injury.
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Internal department memos about his conduct and demeanor that night, including firefighters’ statements that Peskin appeared to be intoxicated, are doing serious harm to the supervisor.
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The couple appeared to be intoxicated and were belligerent to officers, according to an arrest report, which did not describe whether they had been tested for alcohol consumption.
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He was reported to be intoxicated inside the store and was seen driving around the lot.
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Officers found the caller to be highly intoxicated and found no evidence of suspicious activity.
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The driver, a Cleveland woman, 33, was found to be intoxicated.
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Many of the underage drinkers were intoxicated, police said, and many lacked any type of identification.
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
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 15th century
in the meaning defined at sense 1
See Words from the same yearintoxicate Synonyms
INTOXICATE Defined for English Language Learners
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
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
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
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
Learn More about intoxicate
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See words that rhyme with intoxicate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intoxicate Spanish Central: Translation of intoxicate Nglish: Translation of intoxicate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intoxicate for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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