WordGarden.iointoxicate
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪntˈɒksɪkˌeɪt/
US
- /ˌɪnˈtɑksəˌkeɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to make someone drunk or impaired by alcohol or another drug
to excite, delight, or exhilarate someone intensely
to poison or produce toxic effects in a body
Beyond the definition
We usually think of intoxicate when talking about alcohol: making someone drunk. But the word also goes beyond that. It can mean affecting someone so strongly that their clear thinking weakens for a while. A beautiful sunset can intoxicate you with its colors, a thrilling story can intoxicate your imagination, and the smell of freshly baked bread can intoxicate your senses. In other words, it is about being deeply carried away by a substance, feeling, or experience.
Think of it like this: if a strong feeling or experience seems to "take over" your mind, you may be intoxicated by it. People often use the word for love, power, beauty, excitement, or success when those things become so strong that they blur good judgment.
The word intoxicate most commonly refers to making someone drunk, usually with alcohol. This sense comes from its older root meaning "to poison," from the Latin intoxicare (related to toxicum, "poison"). Over time, the meaning broadened and now also includes any strong influence that overwhelms a person's judgment, reason, or senses.
To intoxicate isn't just about physical impairment; it describes a state of being powerfully moved—emotionally, mentally, or sensorially. A captivating piece of music might intoxicate you with its melody, filling your mind and emotions until everything else fades away. The thrill of victory can intoxicate an athlete, making them feel invincible and euphoric. Even the heavy scent of blooming jasmine in the evening air can intoxicate a gardener.
The word is frequently used to describe intense positive experiences: "She was intoxicated by the beauty of the Italian countryside." However, it is equally effective when describing negative or dangerous influences: "He was intoxicated by power and soon lost sight of his moral principles."
Figuratively, intoxication suggests a loss of restraint or clarity due to the potency of an experience. It implies being swept away by something so strong that rational thought is diminished. For example, saying "the crowd was intoxicated with excitement" paints a vivid picture of unrestrained, infectious enthusiasm. Ultimately, intoxicate describes the profound and sometimes disorienting effect any potent influence can have on the human mind—whether that influence is pleasurable, destructive, or simply overwhelming.
Examples
- 1
Drinking
The homemade punch was strong enough to intoxicate anyone who drank too much.
- 2
Legal context
Police said the driver was intoxicated at the time of the crash.
- Usageintoxicated
a formal word often used in police, medical, or legal contexts
- 3
Sensory delight
Visitors were intoxicated by the smell of jasmine in the warm evening air.
- Patternbe intoxicated by + thing
feel strongly excited or delighted by it
- 4
Political power
After the election, he seemed intoxicated with power.
- Patternintoxicated with + power/success
too excited by it to think clearly
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Fame
The first months of fame can intoxicate young performers.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- intoxicateverb
Forms
- intoxicatedpast tenseverb
- intoxicating-ing formverb
- intoxicatesverb