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 of intoxicated

• drunk
• drunken
• impaired
• fried

Examples of intoxicated in a Sentence

He appeared to be very intoxicated.

Driving while intoxicated is illegal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Prosecuting attorney John Dinger said the victim was too intoxicated to consent, though Carrasco Benitez disputes the victim’s account of the violent nature of the crime. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 29 Apr. 2026

Harden may have been under the influence of ketamine and cocaine and was too intoxicated to defend himself, prosecutors told the jury. —Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026

Police say the woman received a citation for operating while intoxicated child endangerment. —Dejanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

Stuart Roane, 59, is charged with causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II substance in his blood, a Level 5 felony, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment, and reckless driving, both Class A misdemeanors. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intoxicated

• abbreviated
• accelerated
• accentuated
• accommodated
• acculturated
• accumulated
• acidulated
• adjudicated
• administrated
• adulterated
• affiliated
• agglomerated

Medical Definition

intoxicated

adjective

in·​tox·​i·​cat·​ed -sə-ˌkāt-əd 

: affected by an intoxicant and especially by alcohol