intoxicating

UK: /ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪtɪŋ/

US: /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪtɪŋ/

US: (in tok′si kā′ting)

From the verb intoxicate: (⇒ conjugate)

intoxicating is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tox•i•cat•ing /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪtɪŋ/   adj. 

1. causing or that can cause intoxication or drunkenness:
   intoxicating beverages like beer and wine.
2. mentally or emotionally thrilling or exciting:
   an intoxicating ride in a hot-air balloon.
in•tox•i•cat•ing•ly, adv. See -tox-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tox•i•cat•ing  (in tok′si kā′ting), adj. 

1. causing or capable of causing intoxication:
   intoxicating beverages.
2. exhilarating;
   exciting:
   an intoxicating idea.

• intoxicate + -ing² 1625–35

in•tox′i•cat′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intoxicating / ɪnˈtɒksɪˌkeɪtɪŋ/ adjective

1. (of a drug or alcoholic drink) producing in a person a state ranging from euphoria to stupor, usually accompanied by loss of inhibitions and control
2. stimulating, exciting, or producing great elation

inˈtoxiˌcatingly adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tox•i•cate /ɪnˈtɑksɪˌkeɪt/   v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing. 

1. Physiology to affect the body's physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance; to cause to become drunk: [~ + object]
   Alcohol intoxicates you faster if you weigh less.
   [no object]
   All alcohol intoxicates.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   delight;
   exhilarate:
   [~ + object] The beauty of the summer night intoxicated her.

in•tox•i•cant /ɪnˈtɑksɪkənt/  n. 

[countable] Beer is an intoxicant.

in•tox•i•ca•tion /ɪnˌtɑksɪˈkeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -tox-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•tox•i•cate  (v. in tok′si kāt′;adj. in tok′sə kit, -kāt′), v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing, adj. 
v.t. 

1. Physiology to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, esp. to excite or stupefy with liquor.
2. to make enthusiastic;
   elate strongly, as by intoxicants;
   exhilarate:
   The prospect of success intoxicated him.
3. Pathology to poison.

v.i. 

4. to cause or produce intoxication:
   having the power to intoxicate.

adj. 

5. [Archaic.] intoxicated.

• Medieval Latin intoxicātus, past participle of intoxicāre to poison. See in-², toxic, -ate¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

in•tox•i•ca•ble  (in tok′si kə bəl), adj.  in•tox′i•ca′tor, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

intoxicate / ɪnˈtɒksɪˌkeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to produce in (a person) a state ranging from euphoria to stupor, usually accompanied by loss of inhibitions and control
2. to stimulate, excite, or elate so as to overwhelm
3. (of a drug) to poison

Etymology: 16th Century: from Medieval Latin, from intoxicāre to poison, from Latin toxicum poison; see toxic

inˈtoxicable adjective