Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of impregnate are drench, saturate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When could drench be used to replace impregnate?

While in some cases nearly identical to impregnate, drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

When might saturate be a better fit than impregnate?

The words saturate and impregnate can be used in similar contexts, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

Where would soak be a reasonable alternative to impregnate?

While the synonyms soak and impregnate are close in meaning, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

In what contexts can steep take the place of impregnate?

In some situations, the words steep and impregnate are roughly equivalent. However, 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 impregnate Clothing impregnated with permethrin is another option. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 May 2025 On Saturday, my brother and his husband flew from Oakland to Los Angeles and made their first attempt to impregnate me. Tamar Stevens, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 To cope, Bobby impregnates and marries another Veronica (Blake Lively), who is so attractive and kind and cheerful and perfect that we are forced to conclude that Bobby must really, really love brunette Veronica to still be thinking about her despite being wed to an angel. Lizzie Logan, Vulture, 2 May 2025 If this all is Dr. Max’s fever dream, the appeal might just be impregnating a coworker, not the actual responsibility of raising a child. Claire Franken, TVLine, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impregnate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impregnate
Verb
  • Valenzuela adds that watering in the morning ensures there's sufficient time for the water to soak deep into the soil before the heat of the day.
    Lauren David, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
  • The colorful upper is breathable and moisture-wicking to keep your feet from getting sweaty or soaked by rain.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • There have been major changes to feed zones this year, with rules introduced by the UCI, cycling’s world governing body, to stop major teams from saturating the route with support, putting smaller squads at a disadvantage.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • But, these days, as influencers, artificial intelligence, and horrifying headlines saturate the internet, what’s the point of posting?
    Daniel A. Gross, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • The campers drowned when their bus attempted to evacuate them and was overtaken by floodwater.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
  • On Saturday in Porter County, a father, 65, and his 20-year-old son drowned in Lake Michigan.
    Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • One video depicted water from the ceiling drenching the lobby, as well as the candy counter of a concessions stand.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 15 July 2025
  • After all the fussing and fidgeting exerted in trying to nail just the right mix of comic book action, comedy and pathos, the movie emerges as a tone-deaf mishmash of underdeveloped characters, half-baked humor and unhatched plotting drenched in CGI overkill.
    Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • One key here is to macerate the watermelon with salt and sugar for 20 minutes, which draws out excess liquid, concentrates the melon’s flavor and allows the seasoning to penetrate the fruit.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
  • This means that each botanical is macerated in the spirit for a different length of time and at a specific ABV, which Gabriel believes allows the flavor of the particular spice, herb, or flower to truly shine through.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impregnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impregnate. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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