Synonyms of impregnate

impregnate

verb

im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt 

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid

impregnated the cloth with furniture polish

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soak
• saturate
• drown
• drench
• macerate
• immerse
• submerge
• wash
• steep
• penetrate
• dip
• sop
• sodden
• souse
• infiltrate
• marinate
• inundate
• permeate
• bathe
• water
• moisten
• hydrate
• seethe
• swamp
• waterlog
• water-soak
• douse
• humidify
• damp
• dampen
• presoak
• dowse
• swill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• wring (out)
• dehydrate
• drain
• empty
• void
• sear
• desiccate
• parch
• dehumidify

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

Recent Examples of impregnate

If this all is Dr. Max’s fever dream, the appeal might just be impregnating a coworker, not the actual responsibility of raising a child. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Mar. 2025

For context, in 2017 Kirk confessed to stepping out on Rashida with a stripper named Jasmine Washington and impregnating her during season 6 of LAHH ATL. —Essence, 24 Apr. 2025

Handmaids were the remaining fertile women, forcibly impregnated by Commanders. —Fred Topel, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025

That family in the $20 million carriage house had been there for generations, having inherited their wealth from forebears who made their fortune in pest control, leaving flypaper impregnated with arsenic around for Freya to store and use for her own purposes. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025