intoxicate

1 of 2

verb

in·tox·i·cate in-�?täk-sə-ˌk�?t

intoxicated; intoxicating

Synonyms of intoxicate next

transitive verb

: to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished

: to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy

: poison

intoxicate

2 of 2

adjective

in·tox·i·cate in-�?täk-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.

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

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.

Verb

The judge presiding over Karen Read's retrial approved the prosecution's request for new evidence related to print and television interviews on Thursday. of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. —

Jenna Sundel, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 Her attorney, Katie Gipson-McLean, said evidence showed Higgins and others involved were intoxicated the night of the beating. —

Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Dec. 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 See all Example Sentences for intoxicate

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of intoxicate was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Intoxicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intoxicate. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

intoxicate

verb

in·tox·i·cate

in-�?täk-sə-ˌk�?t

intoxicated; intoxicating

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

: 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-ˌk�?t

intoxicated; intoxicating

: poison

: 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-�?täk-sə-ˌk�?t

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

Last Updated: 11 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences

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intoxicate

verb

adjective

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Synonyms

Examples of intoxicate in a Sentence

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