as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
a diffuse speech that took a great deal of time to make a very small point
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disperse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in diffusion
the use of too many words to express an idea
I was bored by the diffuseness of the Victorian novel I was trying to read
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diffuse
Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022
First, there are two ultra-diffuse galaxies that appear to be satellite members of a massive group dominated by NGC 1052: DF2 and DF4.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 22 June 2021
Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
In other words, our statistics suggest that increases in whaling led to decreases in slavery, and this effect diffused across state lines.
—Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diffuse
Adjective
Dragonfly 44 and its ilk are known as ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs).
—Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022
First, there are two ultra-diffuse galaxies that appear to be satellite members of a massive group dominated by NGC 1052: DF2 and DF4.
—Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 22 June 2021
Verb
Shelving, backed with a blend of spandex and mesh, diffuses LED light into a soft ambient glow—less like artificial illumination, more like morning light filtered through linen.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
In other words, our statistics suggest that increases in whaling led to decreases in slavery, and this effect diffused across state lines.
—Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diffuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffuse
Adjective
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Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
-
In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But this year, Veach says, is different from others in the way the draft’s talent is dispersed.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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Its more than $50 million budget was largely dispersed through grants to organizations to identify and combat disinformation from foreign adversaries.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Whether Borrelia amplification by pheasants poses a risk to gamekeepers and land managers, or even to the general public through broader ecological diffusion, is still unknown.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Policymakers in Washington should also design AI regulation to enable responsible technology diffusion.—
Michael C. Horowitz,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Funny and sad, exaggerated and honest, Youssef and Brady’s series offers escape and catharsis, all at the same time.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2025
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Melodrama gets a bad rap for being too exaggerated, and over-the-top but outrageous circumstances beget heightened emotions.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Arab Spring should dispel the delusional gospel that the United States should be in the business of saving the world for democracy.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
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Hinch dispelled any doubts about McKinstry’s place on the roster with more glowing quotes this spring.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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People who completed the 10 repetitions for each exercise easily for two consecutive sessions moved up to a harder version of the exercise.—
Kristen Fischer,
Health,
17 Apr. 2025
-
He was inspired by the terse, concrete lines of Gertrude Stein and the repetition printmaking of Andy Warhol.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There were also happier times, including winning the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015 and two Community Shield trophies, with an extremely talkative Arteta alongside him in midfield.—
Dermot Corrigan,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
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Finney-Smith has become one of the team’s most talkative players and a consistent source of energy.—
Dan Woike,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Global conflicts over scarce resources will dissipate, giving way to a new era of peace and abundance.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
15 Apr. 2025
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The story doesn’t resolve so much as dissipate, in a series of almost comically perfunctory twists, reversals, and whispers of geopolitical peril.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diffuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffuse. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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