penetration

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun penetration differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of penetration are acumen, discernment, discrimination, insight, and perception. While all these words mean "a power to see what is not evident to the average mind," penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial.

lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles

When is it sensible to use acumen instead of penetration?

The words acumen and penetration can be used in similar contexts, but acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment.

a director of reliable box-office acumen

When would discernment be a good substitute for penetration?

The synonyms discernment and penetration are sometimes interchangeable, but discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art).

the discernment to know true friends

When is discrimination a more appropriate choice than penetration?

In some situations, the words discrimination and penetration are roughly equivalent. However, discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent.

the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music

When can insight be used instead of penetration?

The meanings of insight and penetration largely overlap; however, insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy.

a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless

When could perception be used to replace penetration?

The words perception and penetration are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling).

a novelist of keen perception into human motives

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 penetration Some of that is international and some is just deeper penetration with existing stores. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025 The deepest penetration for Midland was at the Dragons’ 20-yard line in the final quarter, but a fourth-down stop gave the ball back to the Southlake offense, which led to the second Gunter TD catch. Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2025 Another design consideration is that the lower penetration depth of these safer, low-energy beta emitters requires that the sources be made very thin, or else the particles will never reach the battery’s semiconductor. IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025 However, penetration of lithium-ion batteries have over the past two decades met many obstacles and still facing a lot of challenges, particularly in the market, like longer duration. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for penetration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetration
Noun
  • Meta's approach includes warning screens, sensitivity filters and age restrictions.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • After treatment, mild soreness or sensitivity is common for a few days as the surrounding tissues heal.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There’s an understanding among Hawaii residents that only students with Hawaiian blood will be admitted.
    Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The coming flyby allows the chance for spacecraft to get up close and observe how interactions with Earth's gravitational field and magnetosphere influences and changes Apophis, boosting our understanding of asteroid physics.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The guys up at Auburn rave about his intelligence, his football acumen and his work ethic.
    Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.com, al, 20 Jan. 2023
  • But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
    Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • Bates is on Capitol Hill as one of multiple former Biden aides who have gone in person before the panel for the committee’s investigation into Biden’s mental acuity and use of an autopen.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Biden's last years in office, and his re-election run in 2024, were marked by concerns over his age and mental acuity.
    Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But with prices consistently uncompetitive, demand scant, and government incentives in the US and elsewhere drying up, there’s a growing perception in energy circles that the hydrogen bubble has burst.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • For many workers, the onboarding process can significantly impact their perception of their new company.
    Alyshia Hull, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Such a move would represent a dramatic shift aimed at combating short-term thinking inside C-Suites obsessed with pleasing investors but would also mean far less timely insights into the business world and the real economy.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The company applies a sociological attention to the gestures and dilemmas of people’s daily routines; once harvested, these insights are quickly incorporated into product designs.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Instead of using traditional training data, Pieces’ assistant draws from a proprietary process that includes prompting tailored to clinical tasks, a knowledge graph, and a comprehension engine designed for high-trust environments.
    Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Its research shows the new format is equally rigorous, and proponents say reading comprehension is better reflected in other parts of a college application.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • More recent events sent me back to the novel itself, and to a new respect for Lewis’ percipience about Americans’ vulnerability to the blandishments of political charlatans, and about his oracular vision of how a fascist takeover would unfold.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2021
  • Jones has experience with a wide array of run-pass option plays as well, and his football percipience is highly regarded.
    Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2021

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Cite this Entry

“Penetration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetration. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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