DRENCH Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'drench' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of drench are impregnate , saturate , soak , and steep . While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured. // clothes drenched by a cloudburst

Q: In what contexts can 'impregnate' take the place of 'drench'?

The words impregnate and drench can be used in similar contexts, but impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another. // a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Q: When might 'saturate' be a better fit than 'drench'?

The words saturate and drench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held. // a saturated sponge

Q: When could 'soak' be used to replace 'drench'?

While in some cases nearly identical to drench , soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. // soak the garment in soapy water

Q: When would 'steep' be a good substitute for 'drench'?

The meanings of steep and drench largely overlap; however, steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed. // steep the tea for five minutes

drench

verb

ˈdrench

Definition of drench

as in to wet

to make wet we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word drench different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of drench are impregnate, saturate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

In what contexts can impregnate take the place of drench?

The words impregnate and drench can be used in similar contexts, but impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When might saturate be a better fit than drench?

The words saturate and drench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

When could soak be used to replace drench?

While in some cases nearly identical to drench, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When would steep be a good substitute for drench?

The meanings of steep and drench largely overlap; however, steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

steep the tea for five minutes

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 drench MetLife, an outdoor venue, was drenched, and the start was delayed. — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026 The drenching rains and destructive flooding were among the impacts of severe storms that have wreaked havoc across the Midwest and beyond in recent days. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Lala is no longer a hurricane, but the tropical storm is drenching Hawaii with sideways rain, hurricane-force gusts and pounding surf, flooding rivers and triggering mudslides. — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Advertisement The manosphere is drenched in blood-red carnivorous encomiums. — Michael Kimmel, Time, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drench

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drench

Verb

Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.

— Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of wet

Verb

Tropical Storm Lala is already soaking Hawaii’s Big Island and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane, prompting a rare warning for what could be the island’s first hurricane landfall in 155 years.

— Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Hardy hibiscus seeds germinate more easily; soak and nick seeds before planting indoors.

— Shelby Vittek, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of soak

Verb

Bubble sheet masks are made up of thin pieces of fabric that are saturated with a solution, which bubbles up as the mask sits on the skin.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
OpenAI’s lookbook for their capsule collection is an apparent homage to tastemaking brands like Kith and Aimé Leon Dore, two labels that turned laidback knitwear and box cut T-shirts into trends that saturated menswear in the last few years.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of saturate

Verb

If there isn’t room in the dishwasher for a container and its lid, wait for the next cycle or hand wash them to ensure both top and bottom are clean at the same time.

— Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
The messages were created using temporary chalk and power-washing techniques, with a cleanup plan in place from the outset.

— Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of wash

Verb

However, following reports that Jagger impregnated Brazilian model Luciana Morad, Hall went to file for divorce only to find out their nuptials were never legally binding.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
My favorite titles reveal that the land of love can be treacherous terrain—migration, murder, parental illness, a stranger impregnated.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Definition of impregnate

Verb

Since the first attack July 18 in Elektrostal, just east of Moscow, and in the southwestern Tambov region, Wildberries depots burned one after another in massive fires that flooded social media.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Following the news of Panettiere’s death at age 36 on Sunday, fans have flooded TikTok to pay tribute to the actress and her many beloved roles throughout her career.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of flood

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“Drench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drench. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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