leaven

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb leaven differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of leaven are imbue, infuse, ingrain, inoculate, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When is it sensible to use imbue instead of leaven?

The words imbue and leaven are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

When would infuse be a good substitute for leaven?

The synonyms infuse and leaven are sometimes interchangeable, but infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

In what contexts can ingrain take the place of leaven?

Although the words ingrain and leaven 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 might inoculate be a better fit than leaven?

The meanings of inoculate and leaven 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 could suffuse be used to replace leaven?

While the synonyms suffuse and leaven are close in meaning, 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 leaven Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale $14 $10 at Amazon The digital food scale can accurately weigh items as heavy as 11 pounds or 5,000 grams and as light as 2 grams, registering even small additions like leavening ingredients. Maggie Horton, People.com, 18 June 2025 The vibe, never exactly cheerful, and never leavened by a hint of even the most sarcastic sense of humor, takes a turn for the horrific one evening in the wake of the bawdy revels celebrating Tomek’s wedding. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 30 May 2025 This show turns her into a singer, Dyanne (Aja Alcazar), who leavens the testosterone a bit without being the least bit shy herself. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 26 Apr. 2025 That said, the thrill of power is only really exciting when leavened with a little friction. Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leaven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaven
Verb
  • But rather than overwhelm the property, these additions have enlivened it, drawing a broader crowd to its idyllic grounds and helping a younger generation connect with the island’s slower rhythms, far from its glitzy beach clubs.
    Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Along with live music, a new mural by local artist NONY will enliven the beer garden.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Nia DaCosta talked about how her feelings on Ibsen animated her need to redo Hedda Gabler.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Cenat’s fans informed him of the post during his Mafiathon 3 stream, and his reaction was as animated as ever.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The salty-bright zing that comes with as little as one or two spoonfuls can invigorate a wide array of classic recipes, from pasta salad to biscuits.
    Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Roberts brings a jolt of invigorating fury to one of the movie’s strongest scenes, in which the mentor rips into her mentee in public on a campus square with a fully detailed character assassination.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The twist, however, is that it’s infused with tourmaline, a naturally energizing crystal said to boost circulation and revive radiance, plus laminaria saccharina extract, a kelp that helps absorb excess oil, so skin feels fresh and balanced.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The reintroduction of Lady Mary Talbot, formerly Crawley (Michelle Dockery), features the aristocrat in a striking, red sleeveless gown, inspired by designs from the 1930s and infused with certain contemporary elements.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Notably, said Kriner, individuals who are inculcated with a sense of nihilism do not commit crimes to achieve an ideological goal.
    Odette Yousef, NPR, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Another important way is to inculcate mindfulness by observing anger as a passing emotion rather than being all consumed by it.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • The rise of the bias cut was a silhouette on which Robbins wanted to focus, imbuing the fluid style with elements of luxury and glamour intrinsic to the aristocracy.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But this time, Singer has gone down in size with an unusual gloss lacquer departure imbued with a dressy twist.
    Thor Svaboe, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Develop Character To Combat Cognitive Warfare Developing and strengthening character inoculates individuals.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Most people have stopped getting vaccinated and most parents don't inoculate their kids.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • His narration is a constant pleasure — mournful, wry, and suffused with a world-weary poetry.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Does that ideal suffuse your work?
    Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Leaven.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaven. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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