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 Despite the austerity of her ambitions, there are moments of lush imagination that leaven the tone somewhat, like a dream sequence in which Teresa, furiously making bread in the middle of the night, is teased by an impish child. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025 A lot of people don’t like the ad campaign, and there are plenty of reasons not to: there’s no irony or camp to leaven the trashy, dog-whistle atmosphere. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025 In a contrast with his remarks to reporters, however, Trump leavened the social media thrust at Putin with criticism of Zelensky, as well. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 27 May 2025 And if the Yavin material is blatant stalling, much of it is entertaining stalling, offering some welcome dark comedy to leaven some of the heavier material elsewhere. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leaven
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaven
Verb
  • Hendersonville also has a first-rate downtown with museums, shops, and restaurants to enliven a weekend trip.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2025
  • By contrast, Accra, the nation’s capital, with its Parliamentary Building and Black Star Square, is enlivened by streams of mellow banter and commerce.
    Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sanders, who is typically as passionate and animated on the sidelines as any coach in college football, was restricted to coaching from a seat on the bench in Week 6 due to the pain his blood clots were causing him.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The team had already animated a cartoon film of three anthropomorphic sausages running across the Milwaukee skyline on the big screen and when they were seen to arrive at the gates of the stadium, the characters would race across the scoreboard as digital dots.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Notes of vanilla bean, ambroxan, and cedarwood blend with invigorating pink pepper, bergamot, and lily to create a scent that's complex, addictive, and perfect for fall.
    Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 8 Oct. 2025
  • There are some parties who aren’t sure CBS News needs to be invigorated.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nuno infused the former Burnley and Newcastle player with supreme levels of confidence.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • At Stubborn Seed, they’re lightly grilled over charcoal and served with a potato foam infused with garlic and dill oil.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Part of the emotional appeal of Reaganism was that there were left-of-center reprimands that seemed like an insult, an effort to inculcate shame, an effort to cast American history in a way that wasn’t sufficiently celebratory.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • But this is not quite a feel-bad thriller — it’s imbued with tremendous heart, and Dillane’s brilliant performance keeps it beating.
    David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025
  • According to a China State Council directive, the country is aiming for AI adoption to reach 70% of the population by 2027 by imbuing various agents and other applications across core industries.
    Jaures Yip, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, Romo was seemingly afflicted with a malady that Prescott cannot inoculate himself against.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • We’re almost inoculated by tragedy, although not in this case.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • But will this common sense prevail in an era suffused with division and mutual political loathing?
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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