DEE-toks
DETOX Short for detoxification; the process of removing toxic substances from the body.
13
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Detox is the shortened form of detoxification, referring to the process of removing toxic substances from the body. Medically, it specifically describes the period during which the body clears itself of drugs or alcohol, often under supervision to manage withdrawal symptoms.
In popular wellness culture, detox has expanded to include various diets, cleanses, and treatments claiming to remove undefined 'toxins' from the body. While the liver and kidneys naturally detoxify the body, the commercial detox industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar business.
For word game players, DETOX offers a common 5-letter word ending in X, making it valuable when X appears late in the game. Its everyday usage and straightforward spelling reduce the risk of challenges.
Beyond physical cleansing, 'detox' has entered metaphorical usage - people speak of 'digital detox' (avoiding electronic devices), 'social media detox,' or 'detoxing' from negative relationships, reflecting modern anxieties about overconsumption and wellbeing.
The word 'detox' emerged in the 1970s as a colloquial shortening of 'detoxification,' which itself comes from 'de-' (removal) + 'toxic' (poisonous) + '-ation.' The medical term 'detoxification' dates to the 1900s, but the shortened form coincided with the rise of rehabilitation culture.
Words with similar meaning
CLEANSE
Purification process
DETOXIFY
Full form
PURIFY
Make clean
REHABILITATION
Recovery process
Words with opposite meaning
INTOXICATE
Introduce toxins
CONTAMINATE
Make impure
POLLUTE
Add harmful substances
Plural Form
detoxes
Related Terms
Cleansing food regimen
Break from technology
Medical withdrawal facility
Total base points: 13 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 3
Other high-scoring 5-letter words (Scrabble)
Focus on maximizing tile placement and multipliers.
"He entered a detox program to safely withdraw from alcohol."
"The spa offers a week-long detox retreat with juice cleanses and yoga."
"DETOX was the perfect play to use that awkward X tile."
Detox culture reflects modern anxieties about health, purity, and control in an increasingly toxic world. From celebrity endorsements to social media cleanses, the concept has evolved from medical necessity to lifestyle choice, spawning industries and influencing how we think about health and wellness.
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