Synonyms of penetrate

penetrate

verb

ˈpe-nə-ˌtrāt 

as in to pierce

to go or come in or into

a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pierce
• enter
• access
• invade
• set foot in
• step into
• burst (in or into)
• infiltrate
• breeze (in)
• encroach
• drop in
• pop (in)
• intrude
• trespass
• stray (into)
• waltz (in)
• infringe
• wander (into)
• barge (in)
• gate-crash
• crash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• leave
• depart
• exit

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb penetrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of penetrate are enter, pierce, and probe. While all these words mean "to make way into something," penetrate carries a strong implication of an impelling force or compelling power that achieves entrance.

the enemy penetrated the fortress

When would enter be a good substitute for penetrate?

The words enter and penetrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, enter is the most general of these and may imply either going in or forcing a way in.

entered the city in triumph

When is pierce a more appropriate choice than penetrate?

While in some cases nearly identical to penetrate, pierce means an entering or cutting through with a sharp pointed instrument.

pierced the boil with a lancet

When can probe be used instead of penetrate?

The synonyms probe and penetrate are sometimes interchangeable, but probe implies penetration to investigate or explore something hidden from sight or knowledge.

probed the depths of the sea

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of penetrate

The first is fine particulate matter, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose the greatest health risks. —Simmone Shah, Time, 6 May 2025

The tiller is made from durable steel and features a curved T-handle, an anti-slip step plate to easily penetrate the soil, and a sharp, six-point claw that loosens even the hardest of soil with ease. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 3 May 2025

Get inside, somehow, against an Ottawa line of defence that’s been difficult to penetrate. —Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Across a two-year period beginning at the end of 2010, China managed to penetrate and dismantle the U.S. intelligence agency’s network of spies in the country in what was revealed in 2018 to have been largely due to the agency botching its clandestine communication system. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 2 May 2025