inebriated
C1Formal, legal, medical, literary.
Definition
Meaning
Intoxicated with alcohol; drunk.
A state of being under the influence of alcohol to the point of impaired control or judgment. Can be used figuratively to describe being excited or exhilarated to a disorienting degree (e.g., 'inebriated with power').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
More formal and clinical than 'drunk'. Often implies a noticeable and significant level of impairment. Can function as both an adjective (an inebriated person) and, less commonly, the past participle of the verb 'inebriate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both use it in formal/literary contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries formal or technical connotations. It can sound euphemistic or deliberately elevated.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written American English (e.g., police reports, medical literature) than in everyday British English, where 'drunk' is overwhelmingly dominant in speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/become/get + inebriated (on [substance])[Subject] + inebriate + [Object] (rare, formal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Inebriated with success/power (figurative use).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare; would only appear in a formal report regarding an incident.
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, or medical texts discussing substance use.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used for deliberate formality, humour, or euphemism.
Technical
Common in legal documents (e.g., 'driving while inebriated'), medical assessments, and police reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The potent cocktail soon inebriated the unsuspecting guests.
- He claimed the drink had inebriated him more quickly than he anticipated.
American English
- The medication warns that it may inebriate you if taken with alcohol.
- They were inebriated by the strong local moonshine.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, often hyphenated) He sang inebriatedly into the early hours.
- She stumbled inebriatedly towards the taxi rank.
American English
- (Rare, often hyphenated) He grinned inebriatedly at his own joke.
- They argued inebriatedly about politics.
adjective
British English
- The inebriated football fan was escorted from the premises.
- He gave a rather incoherent, inebriated speech at the wedding.
American English
- The officer determined the driver was inebriated and issued a DUI.
- An inebriated patron was causing a disturbance at the bar.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typical for A2. Simpler synonym provided.) He was drunk and couldn't walk straight.
- After three glasses of wine, she felt pleasantly inebriated.
- The police arrested the inebriated man.
- Security refused entry to the clearly inebriated individual.
- He became heavily inebriated at the office party, which was embarrassing.
- The study examined the decision-making capabilities of mildly inebriated subjects.
- Inebriated with the euphoria of victory, the team celebrated long into the night.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'IN-EBRIATED' sounds like 'IN his cups, he got VERY EXCITED (ebullient) but now he's incapacitated' — linking to the state of drunken excitement.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTOXICATION IS A LIQUID FLOODING THE BODY/SENSES.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'пьяный' in all contexts, as it misses the formal register. In formal writing, 'inebriated' is better. The Russian 'нетрезвый' is closer in register but less common.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in casual speech where 'drunk' is expected, leading to an unnatural tone. Incorrect: 'We got totally inebriated at the pub, mate!' (Unnatural). Correct in context: 'The suspect was visibly inebriated.'
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'inebriated' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is more formal and can be used as a polite or clinical alternative, especially in writing or official situations.
Its primary meaning is alcohol intoxication. While sometimes extended to other intoxicants in figurative or loose usage, words like 'intoxicated' or 'under the influence' are more accurate and common for non-alcoholic substances.
'Drunk' is the standard, neutral-to-informal term. 'Inebriated' is formal, technical, or literary. You'd say 'drunk' to a friend but might read 'inebriated' in a police report.
No, the verb form is quite rare and formal. The adjective/past participle 'inebriated' is far more common. People typically say 'get drunk' or 'become intoxicated' instead.