Definition of infusenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb infuse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of infuse are imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When could imbue be used to replace infuse?

While the synonyms imbue and infuse are close in meaning, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

In what contexts can ingrain take the place of infuse?

Although the words ingrain and infuse have much in common, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When is inoculate a more appropriate choice than infuse?

The meanings of inoculate and infuse largely overlap; however, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When can leaven be used instead of infuse?

The synonyms leaven and infuse are sometimes interchangeable, but leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When would suffuse be a good substitute for infuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to infuse, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

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 infuse Juan Rulfo infused his novel Pedro Páramo with half a century of political and economic violence, envisioning rural Mexico as a mythic space where past and present overlap. Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says infused food and drinks can take between 30 minutes and two hours to produce intoxicating effects. Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Valeri, who began playing at age 4 in his Buenos Aires suburb, said the futbol passion and aptitude run deep in a country where community pride infuses youth-club rivalries and street soccer prevails in many neighborhoods. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026 Meanwhile, the lipstick-to-oil hybrid is infused with six nourishing oils for a smooth glide, creamy shine, and all-day hydration. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for infuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infuse
Verb
  • The threat is still there, suffused into the air like a memory, but for a time the choice between love and survival no longer feels mutually exclusive to Nino and Yasmina.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Good binoculars will reveal a score of stars in this little group, while long-exposure observatory photographs show about 1000 in the area — all suffused in great clouds and streamers of nebulous light.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 July 2026
Verb
  • What the museum surely didn’t expect was for the trophy to arrive freshly imbued with New York history.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 23 July 2026
  • However, in my experience, the more important fix is ensuring that data is imbued with trusted context.
    Saurabh Gupta, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • Hospitals should invest more in structured, developmentally appropriate social programming for longer-term pediatric patients.
    Anna Tsioulias, STAT, 29 July 2026
  • Over the course of the last decade, Blavatnik has invested more than $7 billion into the streaming platform.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infuse. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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