INTOXICATING Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

intoxicating 1 of 2

adjective

as in breathtaking

causing great emotional or mental stimulation naive, young men who had once regarded the thought of going off to war as an intoxicating notion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

intoxicating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of intoxicate

as in thrilling

to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings the stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exciting

to fill with great joy she was intoxicated by the news that she'd gotten the job of her dreams

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of intoxicating

Adjective

Instead, in trying to explain what made both Murdoch and Lamb tick in those early days, Boyle and Graham show us just how intoxicating and corrupting this kind of success can be. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Arsenal The pursuit of Vinicius Junior was so intoxicating that, perhaps unsurprisingly, its failure has resulted in something of a hangover. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026 If drinking is to be further discouraged, governments should therefore take care to promote social interaction and community building in other, non-intoxicating ways. — Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026 The Willis Tower was built with cutting-edge technology and ageless chutzpah, a word that could be translated as an intoxicating sense of omnipotence. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026 Bennett was certain that the United States would soon embrace soccer—an intoxicating but tenuous idea that now reads as prescient. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 The story is set in Miami’s most exclusive neighborhood, where a picture-perfect wife uncovers her husband’s double life – igniting a seductive power game that turns betrayal into the most intoxicating game of her life. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 18 June 2026 People who have worked at FIFA describe it as an intoxicating place. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 However, research on CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabis compounds still lags far behind the decades of study devoted to THC. — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Verb

Maybe that’s what tips her into some recklessness of her own, with an explanation of Hal’s forceful personality and brilliant rhetorical style as being intoxicating. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026 Right now intoxicating hemp products can be sold in North Carolina with no statewide age limit. — Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026 Dahi played the bassline with production from Aja Grant to complete the beautifully intoxicating instrumental and Mac got to writing a steamy diary entry about the girl of his dreams, pushing back against rap’s stereotypical machismo. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 In the age of driving, cars have been our homes and our exoskeletons, fortresslike rooms of one’s own, embodying an intoxicating combination of danger and safety. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Yet that formula, underpinned by a staff-to-guest ratio of 6 to 1, proved intoxicating. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Cory Harris, a lobbyist for state-legal cannabis operators, suggested that dire predictions about its effect on the intoxicating hemp industry are overstated. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 In the tents erected in Munich for Oktoberfest, the atmosphere can be intoxicating enough without the alcohol. — Erik Kirschbaum, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 The combination of bergamot, neroli, jasmine, Haitian Vetiver, and sandalwood creates a rich, intoxicating fragrance that lasts for hours. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 1 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for intoxicating

Adjective

Princess Rajwa was the star of the day, of course, in her breathtaking gown by Elie Saab.

— Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Oct. 2026
Canaletto, a prominent member of the Venetian school, is best known for his breathtaking oil paintings of Venice and London.

— News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of breathtaking

Verb

The Miami Hurricanes rallied from a second-half deficit for a thrilling 43-35, come-from-behind double overtime victory over the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Buffalo is coming off a thrilling overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of thrilling

Verb

Major Wilson, 17, has been around horses most of his life and now spends much of his time helping younger riders get ready, showing them how to saddle their horses without exciting them.

— Jhair Romero, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
For Harrington and her husband Dante, the thought of triplets was shocking but exciting all the same.

— Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025

Definition of exciting

Verb

After its electrifying premiere, there were quickly reports that A24 is focused on a Best Picture campaign for the film in large part because the Academy’s fusty Documentary Branch may opt not to nominate it for Best Documentary Feature.

— Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
The Minnesota Lynx's electrifying guard, Olivia Miles, has been named the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year.

— Cole Premo, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of electrifying

Verb

The Symphony continues with Cindy McTee’s exhilarating Timepiece and Hector Berlioz’s epic Symphonie fantastique.

— Mike Hamersly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Set at a castle deep in the Scottish Highlands, this nail-biting psychological adventure sees contestants work together on a series of exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhilarating

Adjective

The Patriots will finish second in the West Valley League and could be an intriguing first-round matchup in the City Section Open Division playoffs.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
For now, this is an intriguing proof of concept, a tantalizing glimpse of what electric mobility might look like someday, and a technology wrapped in enough engineering jargon to make the average driver’s eyes glaze over.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of intriguing

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intoxicates

intoxicating

intoxication

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“Intoxicating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intoxicating. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of intoxicating

adjective

verb

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