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.
Officers responded around 8:20 p.m. Sunday to a 911 call reporting an intoxicated driving leaving the scene of a disturbance in the area of Ridge Road in Bella Vista, according to a news release from the Bella Vista Police Department. Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 24 June 2025 The complaint noted authorities responding to a crash where an intoxicated woman, who wasn’t wearing clothes below the waist, was found in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025 Prosecutors claim that Karen dropped O'Keefe off outside Albert's house, backed into him with her Lexus SUV while driving intoxicated and drove off. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 21 June 2025 The shooting was examined in a two-year investigation by this news organization on the propensity of police to use serious and deadly force on mentally ill and intoxicated people; Nguyen had a history of mental illness and was experiencing a psychiatric crisis when he was killed. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 21 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intoxicated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intoxicated. Accessed 30 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!