intoxicated

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkā-təd How to pronounce intoxicated (audio)
1
: affected by alcohol or drugs especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished
especially : drunk
2
: emotionally excited, elated, or exhilarated (as by great joy or extreme pleasure)
… the traveler who has become intoxicated by the vision of Serengeti's exotic animals …Harold Hayes
intoxicatedly adverb

Examples of intoxicated in a Sentence

He appeared to be very intoxicated. Driving while intoxicated is illegal.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The woman told police that her intoxicated boyfriend, who was driving, had a handgun and was assaulting her, police said. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2025 The department has begun an OWI (operating while intoxicated) drug investigation. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The judges made clear, however, that the law still stands, but the plaintiffs can continue to fight their case, while the Justice Department may still try to prove later that some marijuana users pose risks similar to intoxicated or dangerous people historically barred from having guns. Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 Since then, the Herald has published a series of stories about how the FWC never interviewed key eyewitnesses, leading a Miami-Dade firefighter at the scene to tell prosecutors that Pino appeared intoxicated when he was pulled from the water. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intoxicated

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intoxicated was in 1576

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Cite this Entry

“Intoxicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intoxicated. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

intoxicated

adjective
in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed -sə-ˌkāt-əd How to pronounce intoxicated (audio)
: affected by an intoxicant and especially by alcohol

More from Merriam-Webster on intoxicated

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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