Definition of intoxicate
archaic
: intoxicated 1
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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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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.
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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.
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The incident started when Robinson arrived at Patrick Cudahy, 1 Sweet Apple Wood Lane, on June 9 allegedly intoxicated.
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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.
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Standing up to Mr Trump feels intoxicating, but Europe’s options are limited by its own divisions and dependence.
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Hannah’s writing combines self-aware humor with an intoxicating punk energy.
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The 47-year-old Chesapeake Beach man was charged with indecent exposure, intoxicated public disturbance, and disorderly conduct.
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White’s previous intoxicated driving convictions came in September 2015 and June 2016.
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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