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

Since then, he's had no shortage of controversies that have rattled Republican leadership, including a history of posting racist memes on social media and pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the crash scene. —Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024

She’s gone hard after friend-of Jacqueline Blake — a mismatched fight that makes Karen seem like the one punching down — because Jacqueline said that people shouldn’t judge until the case is resolved, and accused Karen of calling her while intoxicated. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

In the intervening years, some manufacturers have found ways to make hemp products that intoxicate consumers without running afoul of the 2021 requirements. —Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 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