intoxication

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   the state of being drunk or strongly affected by alcohol or drugs

   Grammar: Used as a mass noun: intoxication was obvious. It is not usually plural.

   Patterns

   • intoxication from something
   • signs of intoxication
   • public intoxication

   The driver was arrested for intoxication after failing a breath test.

   Signs of intoxication include slurred speech and poor balance.

   She was treated in the emergency room for alcohol intoxication.

2. 2noununcountableliterary

   a strong feeling of excitement or happiness that makes you lose clear judgment

   Grammar: Often used figuratively with of: an intoxication of success.

   Patterns

   • intoxication of something
   • in a state of intoxication

   The intoxication of victory made the team careless in the next match.

   He felt an intoxication of freedom after leaving his old job.

Common combinations

public intoxication

He was fined for public intoxication outside the stadium.

alcohol intoxication

Severe alcohol intoxication can be life-threatening.

signs of intoxication

The police officer looked for signs of intoxication.

intoxication with something

Intoxication with the drug can cause confusion.

Synonyms and how they differ

drunkenness

More direct and common in everyday speech; intoxication is more formal and often medical or legal.

inebriation

Very formal or humorous; intoxication is the usual neutral term in reports.

poisoning

Used when a substance harms the body; intoxication can also mean this in medical contexts, but it is broader.

Opposites

Word family

intoxicate verb

to make someone drunk or strongly excited

intoxicated adjective

drunk or strongly excited

intoxicating adjective

making you drunk or very excited

Commonly confused: intoxication or toxication?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “intoxication”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words