Definition

1. Verb:
   • To treat a person to remove a toxic substance (such as a drug or alcohol) from their body, or to free them from dependence on such a substance.
   • To remove poison or toxic qualities from a substance or environment.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The medical team worked to detoxify the patient who had overdosed.
  • After years of heavy drinking, he decided to check into a facility to detoxify.
  • Certain plants can help detoxify contaminated soil.

Advanced Usage

• "detoxify from": To undergo treatment to become free from a specific substance.
  • She needed to detoxify from the prescription medication under medical supervision.

Variants and Related Words

• Detoxification (n): The process of detoxifying.
  • The detoxification process can be physically demanding.
• Detox (n/v, informal): A shortened, common form of "detoxify" or "detoxification."
  • He is on a seven-day detox. She plans to detox next month.

Synonyms

• Purge: To rid of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, often used similarly in contexts of cleansing.
• Cleanse: To make thoroughly clean, often used in both medical and general purification contexts.
• Decontaminate: To remove dangerous substances, typically used for environments or objects.

Related Phrases

• Undergo detoxification: To experience the process of having toxins removed.
  • The protocol required him to undergo detoxification before starting therapy.

Verb

1. treat for alcohol or drug dependence
   • He was detoxified in the clinic
2. remove poison from
   • detoxify the soil