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
Laroche-Joubert says that while Britain has a bigger tax rebate than France and has the benefit of being an English-speaking nation, the U.S. executives present at the Choose France roundtable suggested that U.K. filming facilities and workforce were already saturated. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 May 2025 For many decades now, the country has been saturated in American culture. Jonny Steinberg, Time, 22 May 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
  • Cooking time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus overnight bean soak.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • For stubborn stains, soak the linen in cool or lukewarm water with a small amount of oxygen bleach for up to a few hours.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sacks spends her alone time in the spa-like bathroom, which Miller swathed in a saturated cobalt from Backdrop.
    Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 5 June 2025
  • Rather than simply pushing more vehicles into saturated markets, Munoz wants to create new value sources through localization, expansion into new markets, development of mobility services, and diversification into adjacent sectors.
    Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • Multiple adults, including the mother, were monitoring the group of children swimming when the boy drowned, deputies said.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2025
  • Three kayakers, including Boswell High School senior Luke Nickens, drowned in North Texas lakes in March.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • It’s made with real chicken and beef and comes drenched in a delicious gravy sauce dogs love.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
  • This is accentuated by the multiple windows throughout the home, which ensure the interior is drenched in sunlight.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 7 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
  • One day, though, Bella plans to fully immerse him in the world of pro wrestling — especially women’s wrestling.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 12 June 2025
  • These teens were sometimes gasping and talking to the screen, laughing at points, fully immersed, fully relating, even feeling nostalgic for TikTok trends that were popping three years ago.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Saturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saturate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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