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
  • The moody combination is enlivened with fiery fabrics.
    Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Yet each performer enlivens a role that looks a bit beleaguered on the page.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • For her latest film, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has sourced the entire call and treated it with respect, horror, and grief, affording it space to play out in in full without attempts to visualize, animate, or reconstruct what is happening on the ground for Hind.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Those assets were then animated inside Unreal to create the claustrophobic environment.
    Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 2 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 set-up could easily slip into grim melodrama, but Jackman infuses it with a pop-tastic fun.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Best Memory Foam Mattress Zinus’s popular memory foam mattress has green tea extract infused into its top layer to maintain freshness.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 4 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
  • But to those who hold them, especially in public safety, challenge coins are imbued with stories, camaraderie and honor.
    Divyaditya Shrivastava, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Using restrained color palettes, striking natural materials, and warm textures, the firm imbues its interiors with a peaceful elegance and feeling of comfort.
    Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Develop Character To Combat Cognitive Warfare Developing and strengthening character inoculates individuals.
    Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Certainly the effects may be more pronounced for teens, but there’s little evidence to suggest the brain is inoculated against the technology’s effects the moment users turn 18, and many vulnerable adults are at risk as well, such as those with sustained mental-health challenges.
    Albert Fox Cahn, The Atlantic, 11 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 10 Sep. 2025.

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