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

• besotted
• blasted [slang]
• blind
• blitzed [slang]
• blotto [slang]
• bombed
• boozy
• canned [slang]
• cockeyed
• crocked
• drunk
• drunken
• fried
• gassed
• hammered [slang]
• high
• impaired
• inebriate
• inebriated
• juiced [slang]
• lit
• lit up
• loaded [slang]
• looped
• oiled [slang]
• pickled
• pie-eyed
• plastered
• potted [slang]
• ripped [slang]
• sloshed [slang]
• smashed [slang]
• sottish
• soused
• sozzled
• squiffed
• squiffy
• stewed
• stiff
• stinking [slang]
• stoned
• tanked [slang]
• tiddly [chiefly British]
• tight
• tipsy
• wasted [slang]
• wet
• wiped out [slang]

Examples of intoxicated in a Sentence

He appeared to be very intoxicated.

Driving while intoxicated is illegal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Although the judge acknowledged that Payne’s intoxicated state may have contributed to the tragedy, she was not swayed by theories that Payne had fainted, jumped, or lost his balance before his fall. —Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025

McCreary pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor driving while intoxicated charge on Feb. 6 and was sentenced to 2 years of probation and community service, according to court records. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2025

His criminal history included intoxicated driving and a battery case on his son. —April Rubin, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

This is in accordance with Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) regulations that say no visibly intoxicated person should be served alcohol. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

intoxicated

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed -sə-ˌkāt-əd 

: affected by an intoxicant and especially by alcohol