Synonyms of leaven

leaven

verb

as in to enliven

Related Words

• enliven
• animate
• invigorate
• infuse
• inculcate
• imbue
• inoculate
• suffuse
• steep
• permeate
• pervade
• charge
• indue
• instill
• plant
• engrain
• endue
• saturate
• invest
• impregnate
• implant
• fill
• overwhelm
• flood
• ingrain
• inundate
• submerge
• drown
• deluge

Dissimilar Words

• deprive
• take (away)
• remove
• eliminate
• strip
• clear
• divest
• empty

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

Recent Examples of leaven

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

That said, the thrill of power is only really exciting when leavened with a little friction. —Alan Bradley, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025

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 director’s observation of the mutable contracts between sisters, and even more so, fathers and daughters, is intensely affecting in a movie freighted with melancholy but also leavened by notes of surprising humor. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 24 May 2025