intoxicate

1 of 2

verb

in·​tox·​i·​cate in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt 

intoxicated; intoxicating

transitive verb

1

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

2

: poison

intoxicate

2 of 2

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cate in-ˈtäk-si-kət 

archaic

: intoxicated sense 1

Did you know?

From scents to songs, many harmless things have the power to intoxicate. At least, that is, by today’s standards. The origins of intoxicate are less inviting. You might have guessed that intoxicate is related to toxic; both words trace back to the Latin noun toxicum, meaning "poison," and the earliest function of intoxicate was as an adjective describing something (such as the tip of an arrow) steeped in or smeared with poison. Toxicum turns up in the etymologies of a number of other English words including intoxicant ("something that intoxicates") and detoxify ("to remove a poison from"), and also in a number of names for various poisons themselves. Happily though, today you’re likelier to be intoxicated by Cupid’s arrow than—one hopes—by a poison dart.

Synonyms

Verb

• charge
• electrify
• excite
• exhilarate
• galvanize
• pump up
• thrill
• titillate
• turn on

Examples of intoxicate in a Sentence

Verb

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 on the Web

Verb

Every day, well over a hundred-times Baker’s own population of 422 people blazes by — often at very high speeds, sometimes intoxicated — and the rescuers in this little blip out their windows will be the ones who try to save them in a wreck. —Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024

While intoxicated, Nusi was driving the wrong way on Loop 820 in Haltom City on Aug. 31, 2020, when his pickup truck crashed head-on into another vehicle, the district attorney’s office said. —Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2024

Darius Watts, 24, pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the July 27, 2022, death of Niurca Rios. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2024

But body camera footage shows Falcinelli, possibly intoxicated, outside the strip club asking police officers to retrieve his phone from the club. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024

My mother was also sometimes intoxicated, emotional or unruly herself. —Danielle Bacher, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024

Right now, Corral Creek is flowing, the area is exploding with wildflowers and the intoxicating aroma of sage, fennel and salt is in the air. —Laura Randall, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

Another person at the house, believing Anderson was intoxicated, had tried to stop him from taking the car. —Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 2 May 2024

Police say Chidester was driving while intoxicated before slamming an SUV into a wall of the Swan Boat Club. —Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press, 1 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Medieval Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare, from Latin in- + toxicum poison — more at toxic

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

intoxicate

verb

in·​tox·​i·​cate

in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt

intoxicated; intoxicating

1

: to affect by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is much reduced

2

: to excite to enthusiasm or frenzy

Etymology

Verb

from Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare "to poison," from earlier in- "put into" and toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon "arrow poison," from toxon "bow, arrow" — related to toxic, toxin

Word Origin

The Greek word toxon means "bow" or "arrow." From this came the Greek toxikon, meaning "a poison in which arrows are dipped." Toxikon was borrowed into Latin as toxicum, which gave rise to the Latin verb intoxicare, "to poison." The English word intoxicate comes from this Latin verb. Intoxicate originally meant "to poison" in English, but now it is almost never used with this meaning. It is related to the words toxic, meaning "poisonous," and toxin, meaning "a poison." Both of these words can also be traced to the Greek toxon.

Medical Definition

intoxicate

transitive verb

in·​tox·​i·​cate -sə-ˌkāt 

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

Legal Definition

intoxicate

transitive verb

in·​tox·​i·​cate in-ˈtäk-sə-ˌkāt 

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