intoxicated

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkā-təd 

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

in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkā-təd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of intoxicated

• drunk
• drunken
• impaired
• fried

Examples of intoxicated in a Sentence

He appeared to be very intoxicated.

Driving while intoxicated is illegal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Michele Hundley Smith was arrested by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office for failing to appear for a court date stemming from a driving while intoxicated charge issued by the Eden Police Department in November 2001, the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. —James Powel, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026

In the internal report, an ICE agent wrote that Martinez appeared intoxicated or impaired and disobeyed verbal instructions to stop and exit his vehicle. —Bayliss Wagner, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Feb. 2026

But the man Sade would go on a date with also had a criminal record that included operating a vehicle while intoxicated, disorderly conduct, and more. —Lauren A. White, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026

Then, last December, while playing at Missouri, Young was charged with driving while intoxicated and speeding. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intoxicated

• abbreviated
• accelerated
• accentuated
• accommodated
• acculturated
• accumulated
• acidulated
• adjudicated
• administrated
• adulterated
• affiliated
• agglomerated

Medical Definition

intoxicated

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed -sə-ˌkāt-əd 

: affected by an intoxicant and especially by alcohol