i-n-t-o-x-i-c-a-t-e
INTOXICATE means to make drunk or to excite or exhilarate beyond self-control. This powerful 10-letter word captures both physical inebriation and metaphorical states of overwhelming excitement or enthusiasm.
19
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
INTOXICATE is a verb that describes the process of inducing a state of diminished physical and mental control, typically through alcohol or drugs. However, the word extends far beyond substances to encompass any experience that overwhelms the senses or emotions.
In its primary sense, to intoxicate means to administer substances that impair normal functioning. Alcohol is the most common intoxicant, affecting judgment, coordination, and inhibitions. The legal and social implications of intoxication have shaped laws, cultural norms, and public health policies worldwide.
Beyond physical inebriation, intoxicate beautifully captures states of overwhelming emotion or sensation. We speak of being intoxicated by love, success, power, or beauty. This metaphorical usage suggests a loss of rational control similar to chemical intoxication but driven by intense positive experiences.
The word also appears in scientific contexts, where intoxication refers to poisoning by any substance. Medical professionals use "intoxication" to describe the effects of various toxins, from carbon monoxide to heavy metals, highlighting the word's broader meaning of introducing harmful substances into a system.
In Scrabble and word games, INTOXICATE is a premium play. As a 10-letter word, it extends beyond the standard 7-tile rack, requiring strategic use of existing board letters. The valuable X (8 points) makes it particularly rewarding when placed on multiplier squares.
INTOXICATE has a fascinating etymology that literally means "to poison." It derives from the Medieval Latin "intoxicatus," past participle of "intoxicare," meaning "to poison."
The root breaks down into "in-" (into) + "toxicum" (poison), where "toxicum" comes from Greek "toxikon pharmakon," meaning "poison for arrows." The Greek "toxon" meant "bow," and poison-tipped arrows were "toxika."
By the 1570s, the word had evolved from its literal poisoning meaning to specifically describe the effects of alcoholic drink. This shift reflects how society began distinguishing between lethal poisoning and the temporary impairment caused by alcohol.
The metaphorical sense of being overwhelmed by emotion or excitement emerged in the 1590s, showing how quickly the word expanded beyond its chemical meaning to capture any state of being carried away beyond normal self-control.
•The word "intoxicate" originally meant "to poison with arrows"—ancient Greek warriors dipped their arrows (toxon) in poison (toxikon), giving us both "intoxicate" and "toxic" from the same root
•Different cultures have unique words for intoxication stages—Japanese has "hoろ酔い" (horoyoi) for pleasantly tipsy, while German's "Katzenjammer" literally means "cat's wail" for a hangover
•In Scrabble, INTOXICATE's X is worth 8 points and can form multiple shorter words like TOXIC, TOXIN, COAT, and CITE, making it valuable for creating intersecting plays on crowded boards
"The bartender refused to serve anyone who appeared intoxicated, following responsible service guidelines."
"Carbon monoxide can silently intoxicate victims, causing confusion and unconsciousness without warning."
"The crowd was intoxicated by the speaker's passionate words and revolutionary ideas."
"Success can intoxicate even the most level-headed person, leading to poor decisions."
"Using the existing CAT on the board, I extended it to INTOXICATE, earning points for both the new word and the X on a triple letter score!"
Alcohol, drugs, toxins affecting body and mind
Love, joy, success overwhelming rational thought
Authority and control corrupting judgment
Beauty, music, or experiences overwhelming senses
Intoxication has shaped human culture since ancient times. From Dionysian rituals in ancient Greece to modern happy hours, controlled intoxication has served social, religious, and recreational purposes. Every culture has developed its own relationship with intoxicating substances and experiences.
The dual nature of intoxication—as both pleasure and danger—reflects in our laws, literature, and social norms. We celebrate wine in poetry and song while maintaining strict regulations on intoxicated behavior. This tension between freedom and control continues to evolve with changing social attitudes.
Understanding intoxication in all its forms helps us navigate the fine line between enhancement and impairment, between losing ourselves productively in joy or creativity and losing ourselves destructively in excess. The word reminds us that some of life's most intense experiences come with the temporary surrender of complete control.
Total base points: 19 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 5 | Consonants: 5
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like INTOXICATE