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

The Colleyville City Council has appointed a new member to fill a vacancy after George Bond resigned over an arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2024

The driver allegedly committed multiple lane violations and was suspected of driving while intoxicated, troopers said. —Andrea Klick, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2024

An Anaheim man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend while awaiting trial for a domestic violence attack against the same woman may have been acting in the heat of passion while intoxicated and suffering from a head injury from a brawl outside a club, his defense attorney told jurors on Thursday. —Sean Emery, Orange County Register, 23 May 2024

Abundant sunshine and mild weather in Southern California make for an ideal climate for rose gardens, with their vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances. —Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 25 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