saturate 1 of 2

saturate

2 of 2

adjective

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

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 saturate
Verb
Hillsborough County Last year, areas of Hillsborough County that are not in flood zones, such as the Forest Hills neighborhood that drapes northwest Tampa and the unincorporated county line, were saturated with high water during Milton when backup generators failed to turn on stormwater pumps. Colleen Wright, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025 If the water droplets absorb into your hair right away and your hair becomes saturated quickly, your hair is high porosity. Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 June 2025
Adjective
Chief among them are efforts to train crews to identify and treat an overdose and a push to saturate fleets with naloxone, the opioid antagonist, commonly administered as a nasal spray under the trade name Narcan, that can reverse overdoses and retrieve a fading patient from a mortal slide. C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024 To give the vinegar a longer working time, saturate paper towels and press them against the glass like wallpaper. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for saturate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saturate
Verb
  • Overnight storms soaked parts of the Kansas City area, with the heaviest rains falling in Wyandotte County and the Northland, according to storm gauges across the metro.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
  • Minimal skin contact — juice soaks with skins for a few hours, gaining slightly deeper color and flavor than direct press.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sweets and Desserts Many sweets, such as desserts, contain butter or oils rich in saturated fats.
    Rachael Zimlich, Verywell Health, 18 June 2025
  • Which reminds me of films like the recent Flash (though, again, more saturated and less bland).
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • The funeral service for a Metro Transit Police Department sergeant who drowned on Sunday in White Bear Lake will be Friday.
    Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 25 June 2025
  • Tragically, eight people drowned, while two were rescued by lifeguards, park rangers and nearby civilian boaters who rushed to help.
    Bethany Wales, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • That said, not everyone should drench their skin in the unsuspecting reverse aging agent.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • Boiling Water Some gardeners drench the plant with boiling water, a method that is usually not effective in killing the entire plant.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • The 14-year-old was raped and… impregnated, and the sponsor ultimately was arrested.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
  • In 1961, his 13-year-old sister Kitty accused him of raping and impregnating her, according to Fred and Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors.
    Alex Gurley, People.com, 16 May 2025
Verb
  • After birth, a baby is immediately immersed in a sea of words and rhythm, as their caregivers coo over them, chatter and sing lullabies.
    Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • But, according to Hoffman, corporate citizenship leaders are immersing themselves in extensive planning for both short-term and long-term challenges as well as identifying opportunities for continued growth and sustained impact in their companies and communities.
    Timothy J. McClimon, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saturate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on saturate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!