totally intoxicated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally intoxicated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is completely under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Example: "After the party, he was totally intoxicated and needed help getting home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I just looked her up on YouTube and listened to a few things and saw her and was immediately totally intoxicated by it," he says.

The New York Times - Magazine

As embodied by Mr. West, a rising British actor, Guy is a polite, reticent fellow, slightly softer and older than his new lover and totally intoxicated by Sam's aggressive, dominating ways.

The New York Times

I was by myself and just laid down on the ground, super-dramatic and totally intoxicated.

Vice

He totally intoxicated you with his feelings: 'Oh, baby, I want to tell you how much I miss you.' 'I can't wait to get home to you.' " In one e-mail message that she provided, he wrote: "You are my world, my life, my love and my universe.

The New York Times

Throughout the nine minute video the door staff deal with a constant string of infuriating, insistent, and totally intoxicated rants from a whole variety of people, all completely baffled that they have been ejected for any reason.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It was simultaneously beyond my ken and totally intoxicating.

The Guardian - Books

It's easy to tumble through its first 30 pages without feeling like you have so much as blinked, so instantly comfortable and totally intoxicating is Rooney's prose, and her rendering of an enduring love.

Vice

It is altogether intoxicating.

Huffington Post

It's all quite intoxicating.

Huffington Post

The progress of his policy was thus arrested at its outset, and was soon forgot in the stormy political events of 1830.In 1831 commenced the great Reform struggle: fascinated with the excitement, intoxicated with the success, the country totally forgot the ends of good government in the struggle for its means:—its means were obtained, its ends were neglected.

The Economist

At baseline totally 624 students (26%) reported having been intoxicated with alcohol.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "totally intoxicated", be mindful of the context and the potential implications of such a state. Use it when the level of intoxication is a key detail.

Common error

Avoid using "totally intoxicated" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more neutral or clinical terms like 'heavily inebriated' or 'severely impaired' to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally intoxicated" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of extreme inebriation. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in news and media to describe individuals under the influence.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "totally intoxicated" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, primarily functioning as an adjectival phrase to describe a state of extreme inebriation. As noted by Ludwig, it commonly appears in news and media contexts to convey the degree of impairment caused by alcohol or drugs. While generally neutral, its informality may make it less suitable for highly formal writing. Alternative phrases such as "completely drunk" or "utterly inebriated" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. The examples from Ludwig underscore its role in describing real-world situations where individuals are significantly under the influence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully intoxicated

A more formal way of saying "totally intoxicated", emphasizing the completeness of the effect.

completely drunk

Focuses on the state of being under the influence of alcohol, emphasizing the completeness of the effect.

utterly inebriated

Highlights the extreme level of drunkenness, using a more formal and emphatic term.

heavily intoxicated

Emphasizes the intensity of the intoxication, indicating a strong influence.

severely inebriated

Indicates a strong degree of drunkenness, often implying a dangerous or problematic state.

blind drunk

Suggests a level of intoxication where vision or perception is significantly impaired.

completely smashed

Uses a slang term to describe being heavily under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

dead drunk

Emphasizes the intensity of the inebriation to the point of being incapacitated.

thoroughly drunk

Highlights the completeness of the state of being intoxicated.

intoxicated beyond reason

Highlights that the level of inebriation has caused the person to lose their ability to think clearly or act rationally.

FAQs

What does "totally intoxicated" mean?

The phrase "totally intoxicated" describes a state of being completely under the influence of alcohol or drugs, implying a significant impairment of physical and mental abilities.

What can I say instead of "totally intoxicated"?

You can use alternatives like "completely drunk", "utterly inebriated", or "heavily intoxicated" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "totally intoxicated" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "totally intoxicated" might be too informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using more neutral or clinical terms like "severely impaired" or "heavily inebriated".

How is "totally intoxicated" different from "slightly intoxicated"?

"Totally intoxicated" indicates a complete loss of control and significant impairment, while "slightly intoxicated" suggests a mild level of impairment with some retained control.