soak 1 of 2

soak

2 of 2

verb

1
2
as in to gouge
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services a merchant who soaks the tourists every summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
as in to drink
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages depressed about his love life, he repaired to a bar to soak

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of soak are drench, impregnate, saturate, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When might drench be a better fit than soak?

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

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

Where would impregnate be a reasonable alternative to soak?

The words impregnate and soak can be used in similar contexts, but impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When could saturate be used to replace soak?

The synonyms saturate and soak are sometimes interchangeable, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

When can steep be used instead of soak?

While in some cases nearly identical to soak, 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 soak
Noun
Letting the salad chill for several hours before serving it also helps the dressing soak into the ingredients. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025 Few things are more enjoyable than taking a long, relaxing soak after a hard day at work. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
But after logging three and half miles through Miami one sweltering evening this week, members wrung out sweaty shirts, chugged ice water and welcomed a soaking rain shower at the finish line. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 The rubbery material provides breathability and keeps the wetness from soaking your bras or clothing. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak
Noun
  • Rayya, who is an alcoholic and a heroin addict in recovery, has begun openly drinking again.
    Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
  • Everything kicks off with the arrival of Eileen (Nina Hoss), a recovering alcoholic, up for the same job as Hedda’s husband.
    Ben Jureidini, Them., 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • More than 600 missiles and drones, civilian infrastructure hit, air defenses saturated.
    Brett Erickson, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Accessorize With a Fall Palette Rich, warm, and saturated, fall’s color scheme is distinct and unequivocally nature-inspired.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The best way to remove algae, dirt, mildew, and other debris from your deck is with a pressure washer, but be careful not to gouge the wood by getting too close.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Last year, Burns attempted to gouge his wife's eye out during an altercation.
    Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Potential for wetting rain exists and could provide additional containment opportunities.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • To clean, start by wetting the inside of your shower.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some research has also found that evening folks tend to have less-healthy habits than morning ones—you’re just more apt to do things like smoke and drink at night, for instance.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help prevent cavities and tooth decay for a few reasons.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Stray Bullets • In this week’s post-credits scene, Adrian removes the pants of the drunk, sleeping John Economos and plants a tender kiss on his forehead.
    Scott Meslow, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Mary Roy, too, married to flee violence—her father, a civil servant under the British, beat his wife and whipped his children—only to find that her husband was an incorrigible drunk.
    Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After a man drowned off a popular Anna Maria Island beach over the Labor Day weekend, city officials are speeding up plans to ban swimming in the area.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • On Wednesday, as one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims spoke outside the Capitol, pleading for government candor, fighter jets roared overhead, briefly drowning her out.
    Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.
    Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Sherry recalls one instance that stung in particular, when a friend pointed out his hair loss at a social gathering.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Soak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soak. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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