Synonyms of saturate

saturate 1 of 2

verb

ˈsa-chə-ˌrāt 

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid

saturate your hair with water before applying the dye

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soak
• drown
• drench
• impregnate
• immerse
• steep
• macerate
• submerge
• wash
• penetrate
• dip
• sop
• sodden
• inundate
• permeate
• infiltrate
• marinate
• moisten
• souse
• water
• bathe
• waterlog
• hydrate
• seethe
• dampen
• water-soak
• swamp
• douse
• damp
• humidify
• presoak
• swill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• wring (out)
• drain
• dehydrate
• empty
• void
• sear
• desiccate
• parch
• dehumidify

saturate

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsach-rət 

as in saturated

containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water

the test will only work if the sample cloth is saturate with solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

• saturated
• dripping
• bathed
• soaked
• soaking
• flooded
• wet
• washed
• drenched
• watered
• sodden
• soggy
• moist
• waterlogged
• sopping
• awash
• damp
• logged
• flushed
• water-soaked
• doused
• watery
• drowned
• submerged
• bedraggled
• soppy
• splashed
• soused
• overflowed
• aqueous
• rinsed
• steeped
• hydrated
• dipped
• inundated
• irrigated
• humid
• deluged
• swamped
• clammy
• dank
• dunked
• boggy
• sloppy
• sluiced
• squashy
• dampish
• laved
• wettish
• seepy
• semimoist
• miry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• arid
• unwatered
• waterless
• bone-dry
• hyperarid
• waterproof
• watertight
• baked
• dehydrated
• water-resistant
• water-repellent
• ultradry
• sunbaked
• droughty
• parched
• thirsty
• wrung
• sere
• freeze-dried

Synonym Chooser

How is the word saturate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of saturate are drench, impregnate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

In what contexts can drench take the place of saturate?

In some situations, the words drench and saturate are roughly equivalent. However, drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

When could impregnate be used to replace saturate?

While the synonyms impregnate and saturate are close in meaning, impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Where would soak be a reasonable alternative to saturate?

Although the words soak and saturate have much in common, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When would steep be a good substitute for saturate?

While in some cases nearly identical to saturate, steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

steep the tea for five minutes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of saturate

Verb

Rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour could overwhelm creeks, rivers and arroyos, while even lower rainfall rates may trigger flash flooding because soils are saturated from previous storms. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Pour enough water on the plant to saturate the leaves, stems, and roots. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026

Adjective

Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Fully saturate mid-lengths to ends, avoiding your scalp entirely. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025