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 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 The father had reportedly impregnated his daughter in the past, according to the serious incident report. Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 17 July 2025 Saying that Mary was a teen-ager when she got impregnated with Jesus. Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 16 June 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
  • More than 600 missiles and drones, civilian infrastructure hit, air defenses saturated.
    Brett Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Accessorize With a Fall Palette Rich, warm, and saturated, fall’s color scheme is distinct and unequivocally nature-inspired.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After a man drowned off a popular Anna Maria Island beach over the Labor Day weekend, city officials are speeding up plans to ban swimming in the area.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On Wednesday, as one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims spoke outside the Capitol, pleading for government candor, fighter jets roared overhead, briefly drowning her out.
    Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Unless your stain’s instruction label specifies otherwise, applying several thin coats of stain rather than drenching the surface with stain will yield the best absorption and most even finish.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The scene looked all the more bleak after a mammoth thunderstorm drenched the ground in the second half, with the image of a soaking-wet Amorim frantically consulting his tactics board serving as the perfect metaphor for the club’s current state.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 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 9 Sep. 2025.

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