Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of impregnate are drench, saturate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When could drench be used to replace impregnate?

While in some cases nearly identical to impregnate, drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

When might saturate be a better fit than impregnate?

The words saturate and impregnate can be used in similar contexts, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

Where would soak be a reasonable alternative to impregnate?

While the synonyms soak and impregnate are close in meaning, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

In what contexts can steep take the place of impregnate?

In some situations, the words steep and impregnate are roughly equivalent. 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 impregnate To explore whether this method could translate to humans, the researchers conducted a pilot study using floss picks impregnated with dye in place of the vaccine. New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2025 Christian extremists overthrow the U.S. government and institute an elaborate system of reproductive slavery: Fertile women are sent to live with high-ranking officials who rape and impregnate them, then take the children to raise as their own. New York Times, 24 July 2025 Amid rumors that Brad had impregnated Abby, Starr (Chrissy Metz), Abby's mother, suspects Jill of having killed her daughter, what with Jill disapproving of Brad and Abby's relationship. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 July 2025 If ulcers develop, the first step is often an Unna boot, a compression stocking impregnated with a zinc oxide gel. Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for impregnate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impregnate
Verb
  • Don't let your soil dry out then soak it.
    Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Once soaked, take them out and rinse the parts thoroughly.
    Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In pastel satin, the shoe softened the architecture while saturating the butter tone that has been trending on red carpets all month.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The devices nearly saturated the ground, and boosted humidity in the grove by 20%, dampening fire spread, Zwierzchowski said.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There’s a risk of the children drowning in the pool or being bitten by spiders; there’s the danger of a brush fire on the nearby hillside; and more.
    Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2025
  • That matters because SOCs are drowning in noise and budget strain from log ingestion.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Interestingly, this is not the first time the King drenched himself in rain to swing a club.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • With the Chocolate Original Glazed, the whole donut is drenched in a milk chocolate coating.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cover the bowl loosely with a clean tea towel and leave the fruit and cucumber mix to macerate for 20 minutes or so.
    Nicole Hvidsten, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Josep Foraster Brisat del Coster Macabeu A skin macerated wine with 25 days of skin contact.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impregnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impregnate. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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