What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
intoxicate
Example
He was intoxicated after drinking too much at the party. [intoxicated: adjective]
Example
The smell of freshly baked bread intoxicated her senses. [intoxicate: verb]
stupefy
Example
The loud noise stupefied him for a moment. [stupefied: verb]
Example
The anesthetic will stupefy the patient before the surgery. [stupefy: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Intoxicate is more commonly used than stupefy in everyday language, especially in the context of alcohol or drugs. Stupefy is less common and tends to be used in more formal or literary contexts.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between intoxicate and stupefy?
Stupefy is generally considered more formal and literary than intoxicate, which is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
