as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in integrating
to make a part of a body or system
local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in draining
to make complete use of
cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tolerating
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of absorbing
Kathleen Baird-Murray, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
Béla Tarr, a giant of world cinema whose absorbing, challenging films helped define the minimalist arthouse style named slow cinema, died on Monday.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Katharina Fuchs, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
Lil Ant changes from day to day in the manner of adolescents everywhere, absorbing differing ideas about what manhood should look like and trying each one on for size.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for absorbing
Adjective
Its quick-absorbing formula feels weightless on the skin—a plus in sensitive, post-treatment times.
—Kathleen Baird-Murray, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026
Béla Tarr, a giant of world cinema whose absorbing, challenging films helped define the minimalist arthouse style named slow cinema, died on Monday.
—Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the case of the brown and pink model, only the shock-absorbing columns are finished in the light pastel shade.
—Katharina Fuchs, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
Lil Ant changes from day to day in the manner of adolescents everywhere, absorbing differing ideas about what manhood should look like and trying each one on for size.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for absorbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absorbing
Adjective
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And Riera — who has arrived from NK Celje in Slovenia — is an interesting person.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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What’s interesting is the NBA has moved away from some events that either have become stale or manipulated, such as the skills competition giving way at next week’s All-Star Weekend.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And while the Gen Xer is leaning on coffee to fuel his massive company turnaround effort—drinking around three times more than the average American pouring two to three cups a day—Gen Z is really who keeps him on his toes, advising him to constantly grow in his role.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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Avoid regularly drinking beverages above 140 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent these risks.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
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New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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More broadly, this work highlights a promising pathway for integrating solar energy directly into electrochemical energy storage, potentially bridging the gap between renewable energy harvesting and efficient energy utilization, according to researchers.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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By integrating supplier data and focusing on high-impact variables such as product weight, organizations can achieve significant improvements in emissions accuracy, according to the Higg Index’s exclusive licensee.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the storks suffered when developers and agriculture operations began the ditching and draining that eventually compromised some 35% of South Florida's wetlands, where the majority of the birds nested.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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Use a rich, well-draining, loamy soil mix rich in organic matter.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Child psychiatrist and Yale School of Medicine professor Yann Poncin previously told USA TODAY that over time, technology exposure rewires the brain to expect instant gratification, depleting the brain’s cognitive patience and threshold for tolerating frustration in the process.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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Specifically, kids this age are developing key emotional regulation skills, such as tolerating disappointment, embarrassment, as well as frustration and anger.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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These small pets’ active and engaging behavior, from zipping around the tank and finding places to hide in solo play to following movement outside the tank in interactive play, can keep a kid’s attention.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
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Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In a video shared on X by a fan account, the 36-year-old is seen chatting with some pals while sipping a drink.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
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For the multitudes who dreamed of sipping their beer in the open air beneath the sunny skies on San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose, your day has arrived.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Absorbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absorbing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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