intoxicating

/ɪnˈtɑksəkeɪdɪŋ/

/ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪtɪŋ/

Other forms: intoxicatingly

Something that's intoxicating is exciting and a bit disorienting. The intoxicating smell of your mom's lasagna might make you forget momentarily that you said you'd meet a friend for pizza.

The adjective intoxicating is perfect for describing things that exhilarate or thrill you. The sound of an audience cheering for you at your accordion concert might feel intoxicating, and a ride on a roller coaster can also be wonderfully intoxicating. A more literal meaning of intoxicating is "making one drunk," and the word itself comes from a Latin root, "to poison."

Definitions of intoxicating

1. adjective

   extremely exciting, as if by alcohol or a narcotic
   synonyms: heady

   exciting

   creating or arousing excitement
2. adjective

   causing intoxication
   synonyms: intoxicant

   alcoholic

   characteristic of or containing alcohol