Synonym Chooser

How does the verb infuse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of infuse are imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When could imbue be used to replace infuse?

While the synonyms imbue and infuse are close in meaning, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

In what contexts can ingrain take the place of infuse?

Although the words ingrain and infuse have much in common, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When is inoculate a more appropriate choice than infuse?

The meanings of inoculate and infuse largely overlap; however, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When can leaven be used instead of infuse?

The synonyms leaven and infuse are sometimes interchangeable, but leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When would suffuse be a good substitute for infuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to infuse, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

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 infuse Next door at Accomplice, a casual burger joint also owned by the duo, my cheeseburger arrived with a spread of mayo infused with roasted beef bones from the Carnal kitchen. Emily Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025 Steeping a tea bag while cooking oatmeal infuses it with rich, aromatic flavors that transform your breakfast into a cozy, flavorful treat. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2025 So it was infused with all the emotion of that too. Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025 Marinated meats are infused with a combination of soy sauce, ginger, garlic, sesame oil and/or Korean chili paste. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infuse
Verb
  • The results of her travels are mixed media paintings of seas and skies, suffused with layers of gold leaf that recall the unique vibes of the tropics (Booth A27).
    Daniella Walsh, Oc Register, 28 July 2025
  • Eerie, twisty, and suffused with rich storytelling, this is a story about strong women and the men who seek to control them.
    Kalie Cassidy July 25, Literary Hub, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Sixty-five-year-old Jep Gambardella, indolent and disenchanted, his eyes permanently imbued with gin and tonic, watches this parade of hollow, doomed, powerful yet depressed humanity.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Beto scored the opening goal of the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and an upturn in form under the returning David Moyes imbued the striker with fresh confidence.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infuse. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on infuse

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!