assimilation

noun

Definition of assimilationnext
1
as in understanding
the act or process of learning or gaining understanding The dog's rapid assimilation of new tricks pleased his owners.

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in integration
the act or an instance of fitting in or conforming Their assimilation into a new culture was difficult at times.

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Dissimilar Words

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 assimilation But my grandfather’s American journey did not follow a straight line from arrival to assimilation. — Phil Kafarakis, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 How much of the story is meant to address the general struggle of immigration and cultural assimilation, and how much is just a specific narrative about a specific man? — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 17 May 2026 Wednesday's comments position Emmer further to the right on Somali assimilation compared to a decade ago. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 25 June 2026 But although resistance is similarly futile, their goals are less about assimilation than worshipping the obsessive Grant's wife, Starla (Elizabeth Banks). — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for assimilation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assimilation
  1. understanding
  2. integration
  3. absorption
  4. grasp
  5. comprehension
  6. conception
  7. digestion
Noun
  • The Iranian regime’s apparent hesitancy to resume in-person talks is a significant step back from the high-level talks that took place in Switzerland earlier this month following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the countries.
    — Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 30 June 2026
  • So the career of saying this film, not that one, gives way to a bitter understanding that the medium was indifferent to attempts at discrimination and prospects of a pantheon.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
Definition of understanding
Noun
  • Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Some hardware makers like Apple design their own chips, which can give a consumer electronics company more control over the integration of hardware and software.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Value now depends on integration with distribution, first-party data, and measurable acquisition systems.
    — Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of integration
Noun
  • Too much fabric softener can reduce the absorption or moisture-wicking factors of bath towels and athletic wear.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • Convection involves turbulent eddies of warm air rising from the ground into the atmosphere above, and latent heat involves the absorption or release of energy from a phase change without the temperature changing.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of absorption
Noun
  • In comparison, the Sparks, without an offensive rebound until the end of the third quarter, were forced to make perfect shots, though that was far from the team’s grasp.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • For much of the last six years, control has escaped the former top prospect’s grasp.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of grasp
Noun
  • The first two weeks include a pre-assessment of a student’s reading ability by giving them a passage and scoring their comprehension.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
  • Netflix is releasing a new game show, one that combines the popularity of Squid Game, the timeless charms of the live-action Wonka experience, and the unwanted ubiquity of technofascist horrors beyond our comprehension.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of comprehension
Noun
  • At the time of Sealand’s conception, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) controlled the airwaves in the United Kingdom, playing popular music only late in the night.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Legal preparation is so important before conception, birth, or placement.
    — Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of conception
Noun
  • During contests, their stomachs stretch, heart rates rise, and digestion struggles to keep up, causing intense physical stress.
    — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The best time to eat pineapple for digestion may be during or shortly after meals.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 3 July 2026
Definition of digestion

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assimilating
assimilation
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Cite this Entry

“Assimilation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assimilation. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on assimilation

Nglish: Translation of assimilation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about assimilation

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