intoxicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intoxicated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Example: "After a few drinks at the party, he became visibly intoxicated and needed assistance to get home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Most came back and said: 'Wow, I haven't had something like this since I left the police academy.'" "We have been intoxicated with bad policing in America for a long time," says borough president Adams, "and we have refused to acknowledge that drunkenness.

The Guardian

Track was "heavily intoxicated," and at first acted belligerently toward police, but Sarah Palin told him to talk to Officer Daily.

The Guardian

Klingenmeyer, at whose house all this happened, and who appeared to Daily to be only "moderately intoxicated," told the officer that he was angry the Palins had shown up and were causing problems.

The Guardian

I don't believe Mr Routh was actually intoxicated at the time of the offence based on a lot of the things he did – shooting accurately at the victims, driving 105 miles without an accident, not having slurred speech … I think he was psychotic".

The Guardian

The judges agreed at times in the day Gimour was "clearly in good, if intoxicated humour".

The Guardian

Mandatory treatment occurs when a person has been taken into protective custody three or more times in a two-month period for being intoxicated in public.

The Guardian

Democrats, while somewhat hamstrung by their necessary embrace of the administration, are probably more bound by their newfound foreign policy muscularity; their success at being as bloodthirsty as any Republican when it comes to "enemies" seems to have intoxicated former critics of executive abuses – a form of philosophical roid rage – the most significant of these defectors being Obama himself.

The Guardian - Opinion

In already stretched departments their behaviour is an unwelcome and potentially dangerous distraction from the care of people who might reasonably be described as more deserving," said Mann. "Patients who are acutely intoxicated can become abusive, argumentative, obnoxious or physically abusive.

The Guardian

"In the face of a lack of action from [the] government, it's tempting to find other solutions to reduce the problem, such as 'booze buses' touring high streets at weekends picking up intoxicated people.

The Guardian

Bristol ,whom Daily described as "heavily intoxicated and upset," at first denied knowing who Klingenmeyer was, and then said that Klingenmeyer had "drug [sic] her across the lawn by her legs and was calling her a cunt and a slut".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Montana's alcohol crash-rate is by far the worst; the safest state is Utah, whose Mormons avoid saloons.In 2004 New Mexico's governor, Bill Richardson, his eye then as now on the presidency, created the post of DWI (driving-while-intoxicated) tsar, and his state is taking ever more creative measures to combat the scourge.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intoxicated", consider your audience and choose the most appropriate synonym (e.g., "drunk" for informal contexts, "impaired" for legal or medical contexts).

Common error

While "intoxicated" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for more common synonyms like "drunk" or "high" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The term "intoxicated" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying a noun to describe someone or something in a state of being affected by alcohol or drugs. Ludwig AI shows it is commonly used to describe individuals exhibiting impaired behavior.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intoxicated" is a versatile adjective primarily used to describe a state of impaired mental and physical control due to substance use. Ludwig AI analysis shows it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, from news reports to formal documents. While synonyms like "drunk" and "inebriated" exist, "intoxicated" offers a more neutral and sometimes formal tone. Remember to choose the most appropriate term based on your audience and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drunk

A common synonym referring specifically to being under the influence of alcohol.

inebriated

A more formal synonym for being drunk.

under the influence

A general term for being affected by a substance, often used in legal contexts.

impaired

Focuses on the diminished capacity resulting from substance use.

stupefied

Highlights the dazed or insensible state caused by a substance.

high

Commonly used to describe the effects of drugs.

drugged

Implies the use of drugs, whether legal or illegal.

tipsy

Describes a mild state of intoxication.

befuddled

Suggests a state of confusion or disorientation.

captivated

Describes being strongly influenced or charmed, not necessarily by substances.

FAQs

What does "intoxicated" mean?

The word "intoxicated" describes a state of being affected by alcohol or drugs to the point where mental and physical control is diminished.

What can I say instead of "intoxicated"?

You can use alternatives like "drunk", "inebriated", or "under the influence" depending on the context.

Is "intoxicated" a formal word?

Yes, "intoxicated" is generally considered a more formal term compared to words like "drunk" or "high". It is often used in legal, medical, or official contexts.

How to use "intoxicated" in a sentence?

You can use "intoxicated" in a sentence like: "The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated" or "He became intoxicated after drinking several cocktails".