intoxicate

IPA/ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪt/
KK[ˌɪntˈɑksəkˌet]IPA/ɪnˈtɑːksɪkeɪt/

intoxicate — verb

  • intoxicatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • intoxicateshe / she / it
  • intoxicatedpast simple
  • intoxicating-ing form

1. to make someone unable to judge clearly or keep steady control because alcohol o

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to make someone unable to judge clearly or keep steady control because alcohol or drugs have affected them

Example

Two strong cocktails intoxicated Valentina before the concert even started.

alcohol intoxicates someone before an event

The fumes quickly intoxicated Harper inside the locked storage room.

fumes intoxicate someone in an enclosed space

Common collocations
  • intoxicate someone with alcohol
  • intoxicate someone with drugs
  • badly intoxicate a driver
Synonyms
  • inebriate

    very formal and often linked especially to alcohol

  • drug

    broader and often suggests giving a substance to someone

  • stupefy

    focuses more on dullness or confusion than on intoxication itself

Grammar Patterns

alcohol intoxicates someone

drugs intoxicate someone

be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs

Usage Note

Often appears in formal, medical, or legal English. The cause is usually alcohol, drugs, or fumes, and the object shows reduced control or judgement rather than simple tiredness.

Common Mistakes

The loud music intoxicated the children.
The loud music excited the children.
this sense is for alcohol, drugs, or another substance affecting control, not ordinary fun.

2. to fill someone with such excitement or pleasure that normal caution and calm ju

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to fill someone with such excitement or pleasure that normal caution and calm judgement begin to disappear

Example

Early praise intoxicated Yasmin and made every small success feel huge.

figurative subject: praise intoxicates someone

The sudden applause intoxicated Anong with confidence before the final round.

intoxicate someone with + feeling

Common collocations
  • intoxicate someone with praise
  • intoxicate someone with success
  • intoxicate someone with power
Synonyms
  • elate

    suggests strong happiness, often after success

  • exhilarate

    emphasises a lively rush of energy and excitement

  • sweep away

    focuses on losing balance or restraint because of a feeling

Grammar Patterns

praise intoxicates someone

intoxicate someone with confidence

success intoxicates someone

Usage Note

Usually takes subjects such as praise, victory, fame, or power. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and describes strong emotional excitement rather than alcohol or drug effects.

Common Mistakes

The clean kitchen intoxicated me.
The clean kitchen pleased me.
this figurative sense needs a strong rush of excitement or pleasure, not mild satisfaction.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Intoxicate, inebriate, drug, and stupefy can all describe changing a person's normal mental or physical control, but they differ in cause and tone. Intoxicate is formal and often used when alcohol or drugs reduce judgement, balance, or self-control. Inebriate is even more formal and now sounds old-fashioned in many situations, especially outside legal or medical writing. Drug is broader: it can mean giving someone a substance on purpose, sometimes without consent, and the focus may be on the act rather than the resulting state. Stupefy stresses dullness or mental blankness more than drunken behaviour. A police report may say alcohol intoxicated the driver, while a crime story may say the victim was drugged before being robbed.

intoxicate ↗inebriate ↗drug ↗stupefy ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • intoxicate someone
  • intoxicate someone with

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Intoxicate goes back to Latin intoxicare, a verb built on toxicum, meaning "poison". It reached English through French with the older idea of poisoning or affecting someone with a harmful substance. In modern English, the word is usually tied to alcohol or drugs making a person lose clear control. English later stretched the same image into figurative use, so praise, success, or power can intoxicate someone when they cloud calm judgement in a way that resembles drunkenness.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Adjective