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 Her experience as a caregiver has infused her art with elegance, richness, and deep compassion. Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 9 May 2025 Each pad is infused with all-natural papaya enzymes that remove dirt, oil, and minimize pores. Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 9 May 2025 The in-shower treatment is infused with aloe and jojoba to hydrate and soothe as the chemicals kick into gear, which also helps cut down on ingrowns in the process. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 7 May 2025 Bonus points: The formula is infused with skin-loving ingredients like vitamin E and capric triglyceride, a nourishing emollient. Annie Blackman, Allure, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infuse
Verb
  • Kaunas: Where the Grand Duchy Endures As the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — one of Europe’s largest and most powerful nations during the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance — Kaunas is suffused with history.
    Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Pak Bae The music of the indie rock band Japanese Breakfast is suffused with longing.
    Lindsay Totty, NPR, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The process could not only imbue massive objects with more energy but also amplify electromagnetic waves in a phenomenon called superradiance.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 12 May 2025
  • The puppets imbued the play with a poetry of motion and an otherworldly sense of wonder.
    Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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