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
• water
• souse
• bathe
• waterlog
• hydrate
• seethe
• dampen
• swamp
• water-soak
• douse
• damp
• humidify
• presoak
• dowse
• 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
• washed
• flooded
• wet
• soaked
• soaking
• watered
• drenched
• sodden
• soggy
• sopping
• moist
• waterlogged
• water-soaked
• awash
• damp
• logged
• doused
• flushed
• soused
• drowned
• watery
• submerged
• soppy
• bedraggled
• splashed
• dowsed
• inundated
• overflowed
• rinsed
• steeped
• aqueous
• hydrated
• dipped
• swamped
• irrigated
• humid
• deluged
• dunked
• clammy
• dampish
• dank
• boggy
• sloppy
• sluiced
• seepy
• squashy
• miry
• laved
• wettish
• semimoist

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• arid
• unwatered
• waterless
• bone-dry
• hyperarid
• waterproof
• watertight
• baked
• water-resistant
• dehydrated
• water-repellent
• sear
• 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

The program rolled out last May and saturated the county with violations, many of which a joint investigation by the Herald and Tributary found were unfairly issued, and raked in millions for the school district and BusPatrol. —Clara-Sophia Daly, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2025

While beauty brands have been the avenue du jour for A-listers who want another venture (think: Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and now SZA), the market is saturated, so celebrities are looking elsewhere to make an extra buck (or a few million). —Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2025

Adjective

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

However, even when hair is dry and thick, experts advise washing at least twice a week to remove all the residues that can accumulate on the scalp, and that saturate and weaken the hair. —Ana Morales, Vogue, 15 Aug. 2023