‘Toxicated’: Definition, Meaning, and Examples

What does it mean when someone uses the word ‘toxicated’? How would you use it in a sentence?

‘Toxicated’ has a few different meanings, but it is always a slang word. The most common definition is ‘intoxicated due to alcohol or drug use.’

Toxicated Definition: What Does 'Toxicated' Mean?

‘Toxicated’ is a slang term that has two different meanings:

• Intoxicated due to drug or alcohol use
• Harmed by deleterious or toxic substances

The definition of ‘intoxicated’ is “under the influence of drugs or drunk.” In fact, ‘toxicated’ is a shortened version of ‘intoxicated.’ ‘Intoxicated’ can also mean ‘excited or exhilarated (someone).’ It used to mean ‘poisoned,’ but it isn’t used in this way anymore.

While ‘toxicated’ can be used as a slang word, it’s worth noting that the word ‘toxicate’ has a slightly different definition, which is: “to metabolize a drug or another compound in order to produce a toxic metabolite.”

On Urban Dictionary, you also find some other slang definitions of ‘toxicated.’ Since this is a platform where anyone can upload a definition, it isn’t always clear how common these definitions are. Some of the most upvoted definitions include:

• Someone who betrays you and who puts you in a bad mood, someone who is a bad friend but never acknowledges what they’ve done wrong or apologized
• When you aren’t quite intoxicated, but you’ve had one or two drinks

The first of these alternative slang definitions has to do with the notion that people can sometimes be ‘toxic,’ which is an adjective that describes a person whose behavior upsets your life or adds negatively to your life.

Where Does 'Toxicated' Come From?

The word ‘toxicated’ is short for ‘intoxicated,’ which is an adjective that means ‘drunk or under the influence of drugs.’ The word ‘intoxicated’ was first used with the meaning of ‘poison’ in the 1550s, while the meaning of ‘drunk’ was first applied in the 1570s.

The verb ‘intoxicate’ comes from the mid-fifteenth century with the original meaning of ‘to poison.’ This comes from the Medieval Latin word ‘intoxicatus’, which is the past participle of the verb ‘intoxicare,’ meaning ‘to poison.’

The use of the word ‘intoxicate’ to mean ‘make drunk’ wasn’t recorded until the 1570s. Using this word figuratively to mean ‘excite to a high pitch of feeling’ showed up in the 1590s.

These words all stem from the adjective ‘toxic,’ which stems from the French word ‘toxique,’ which itself comes from ‘taxicus,’ a Late Latin word for ‘poisoned.’

Examples of 'Toxicated' In Sentences

Now, let’s look at some examples of using the word ‘toxicated’ in a sentence. Remember, since this is a slang word, it’s not something you would want to use in a professional email or a business context.

• “It’s good to hear you had a good time at the party, but I was so toxicated I hardly remember any of it!”
• “He always gets so toxicated on the weekends that it’s hard to be around him.”
• “The fumes from this cleaning product are so intense I feel like I’m getting toxicated.”
• “This fried food is good, but I feel like if I have too much, I’ll be toxicated.”
• “No one is going to feel sorry for you if you’re hungover tomorrow. I warned you it would be an early morning, and it’s your fault if you get toxicated.”

Other Ways to Say 'Toxicated'

‘Toxicated’ is definitely not the most common way to say someone is drunk, on drugs, or negatively impacted by toxic substances. Here are some other ways to communicate a similar meaning:

• Intoxicated
• Adrip
• High as a kite (usually referring to drugs and not alcohol)
• Loaded
• Lit
• Drunk as a piper
• Toasted
• Trashed
• Plastered
• Pie-eyed
• Worse for wear
• Zonked
• Wrecked

Whether you’re learning English as a second language or simply trying to expand your vocabulary, idioms and slang words can be a great way to add some color and depth to your writing and speech. Be sure to check out our idioms blog for more fascinating terms to learn!