diffuse 1 of 2

Definition of diffusenext

diffuse

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective diffuse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of diffuse are prolix, verbose, and wordy. While all these words mean "using more words than necessary to express thought," diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style.

diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories

When would prolix be a good substitute for diffuse?

The meanings of prolix and diffuse largely overlap; however, prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details.

habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas

When is verbose a more appropriate choice than diffuse?

While the synonyms verbose and diffuse are close in meaning, verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision.

the verbose position papers

Where would wordy be a reasonable alternative to diffuse?

Although the words wordy and diffuse have much in common, wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity.

a wordy speech

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 diffuse
Adjective
This is more diffuse, more ambient, more pervasive, less about paying for exposure than about engineering the conditions under which exposure feels inevitable. Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 On April 25, 2025, Alicia-Adele Axiak, from the town of Caerphilly in Wales, died from a type of cancerous brain tumor known as a diffuse midline glioma (DIPG), the charity Brain Tumour Research shared in a release. Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Verb
It’s designed to diffuse special-interest power and eliminate politics from municipal hiring, firing and contracting. Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 19 May 2026 After four years of such calls, these front-line mental health care workers have learned how to diffuse such situations, in this case, providing contacts for local therapists likely to be able to meet quickly and assigning a case manager to start the process of restoring Medi-Cal coverage. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for diffuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffuse
Adjective
  • Blackened with volcanic rock and encircled by towering waves, the tumultuous scenery makes a vivid psychic landscape for So Help Me God, a rambling spell of ’70s-era soul and exuberant orchestral folk-pop that sweeps through the fog of heartbreak and the clarity of self-discovery.
    Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
  • Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae) is a large, rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 feet long.
    Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Verb
  • This large cone size helps its seeds to survive fires, allowing small birds and mammals to then disperse them into new areas in the Mediterranean Scrub of Southern California.
    Torben Rick, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
  • More than 50 years after the band dispersed, the Beatles legacy has of course lived on.
    Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Among them was a December 2024 lesson about Christmas that featured Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete, a controversial Dutch holiday character known as a helper to Santa Claus who is depicted with exaggerated, racist physical features — including large red lips.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • But the film received criticism in the aftermath of its release, with some naysayers accusing it of being alarmist or exaggerated.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Any apprehensions about whether a first-time collaboration between Hartford’s two largest self-producing theaters — Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford — could gel smoothly enough to grasp all the nuances of this challenging work are dispelled immediately by the opening number.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2026
  • Or is every bit of positivity on TikTok and X a ploy to dispel the bad press about World Cup ticketing and transit, and replace it with Americana vibes and excitement for official soccer jerseys?
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Llorca recalls the technician being talkative and upbeat throughout most of the exam.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
  • Some cat breeds are particularly chatty, and their talkative nature is perfectly normal.
    Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • These special kits dissipate as much heat as possible, so your brakes don’t fade during hot laps at the track or autocross course.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • Because heat, by its nature, dissipates.
    Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • According to the researchers, the findings suggest that infants become sensitive to the communicative and intentional nature of human gaze during the first year of life.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
  • Being multiliterate also implies that the contemporary hypertext and hypermedia user is endowed with a capacity of discernment regarding which semiotic modes can be most efficiently employed to carry a specific communicative load.
    Carmen Daniela Maier, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Scientists have long grouped sharks together as a natural evolutionary unit, meaning every shark species shares a common ancestor that rays and skates do not.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
  • The PlayStation 5 Pro is a more powerful spin on the vanilla PS5, thanks to ray tracing and AI upscaling that give games a visual boost.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diffuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffuse. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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