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 Published in 2014, this story features a ring with a blue-green stone shaped like an elephant, infused with the spirit of a ghost. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025 Cucumber water is made by infusing cucumbers in water; this beverage offers hydration and a potential host of other health benefits. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2025 So why doesn’t Logano just conform to the more pessimistic outlook instead of trying to infuse others with brightness? Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025 The plans, along with comments by top GOP lawmakers, show how rumors and conspiracy theories can gain an air of legitimacy due to social media and a political climate infused with falsehoods, some political scientists and researchers say. Stephanie Armour, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infuse
Verb
  • His music, stuffed with live instrumentation and harmonic sophistication, is suffused with the sound and spirit of Sly Stone, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Marvin Gaye, among many others.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Two frame types—the Breitling Chrono 0002 and Breitling Lémain 0001—are available directly from Cutler & Gross in different colors and editions, and each is suffused with nods to the Swiss watchmaker’s esteemed dive watch collection.
    Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Taylor’s cerebral bent is nothing new, but here, it’s imbued with a fresh, tentative sweetness, and anchored by a genuinely swoony summer romance.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • That’s because, as it’s repeated, the masses will start treating the meme as if it’s imbued with meaning.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Infuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infuse. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on infuse

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