What does intoxicatedly mean?
Intoxicatedly is an adverb meaning in a wild, uninhibited, or ecstatic manner, usually because the subject is drunk or intensely excited. Its literal use describes the manner of someone under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant, as in a description of people dancing or singing intoxicatedly. More often, it appears figuratively to emphasize overwhelming happiness, triumph, or exhilaration, as in “intoxicatedly happy.” The word has a dramatic, somewhat literary tone and is less common in everyday neutral prose than a simpler alternative such as “wildly” or “drunkenly.” Its unusual history also makes it memorable: the adjective “intoxicated” originally meant poisoned, a sense derived from the idea of introducing a harmful substance into the body. Modern usage has narrowed its primary associations to drunkenness, while figurative use has broadened it to describe intense emotional exhilaration.
adverbIn a manner characterized by intoxication; wildly or ecstatically.
- In a manner characterized by intoxication, often implying wild excitement or elation.
"The crowd danced intoxicatedly as the music swept through the stadium."
"They sang intoxicatedly after the team won the championship."
"She was intoxicatedly happy to hear that her brother had arrived."
The word “intoxicated” originally referred to being poisoned, long before it became associated with alcohol.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of intoxicatedly
The word belongs to the Latin root shared by “intoxicate” and “intoxication,” ultimately from medieval Latin intoxicare, meaning “to poison.” The prefix in- expressed entry or application, while Latin toxicum referred to poison. The original sense developed from poisoning into drunkenness, and later the word acquired the figurative meaning of overwhelming the senses or producing intense excitement. The adverb was formed by adding the suffix -ly to “intoxicated.”
Related word forms
How intoxicatedly is actually used
This adverb is relatively uncommon and sounds literary or emphatic. It is especially used when describing behaviour associated with intoxication or with overwhelming joy and excitement.
Easily confused with intoxicatedly
“Intoxicating” describes a person or thing that causes intoxication, whereas “intoxicatedly” describes the manner of someone who is already intoxicated.