impregnate

verb

im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
Definition of impregnatenext
as in to soak
to wet thoroughly with liquid impregnated the cloth with furniture polish

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 There are, miraculously enough, two 2024 horror films about an American nun who joins a convent in Italy where she’s impregnated with something unholy as part of an evil Church plot. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024 Instead, the narrative focuses on Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), a factory worker in the wake of World War I who is impregnated by her rich boss and then discarded after his mother disapproves. —Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024 But he was struck by the resemblance and wondered: What if Rania's daughters were raped and impregnated by one of Assad's forces? —Mirna Alrached, NPR, 16 Mar. 2025 The Maine Wire first broke the story about the Haitian migrant, Ronald Joseph, 42, impregnating the girl. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impregnate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impregnate
  1. soak
  2. saturate
  3. drown
  4. drench
  5. macerate
Verb
  • Try a deep soaking tub with jets, a walk-in shower with custom shower head, sauna, high-tech toilet seat, or heated towel bars to make an ordinary bathroom feel luxurious.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Apr. 2025
  • In the bedroom, guests will find a roaring fireplace, a soaking tub, and a rainfall shower, along with a wood-burning hot tub with a view of the verdant hillside on the terrace.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of soak
Verb
  • Make sure each strand is fully saturated, then let the product sit for 40 to 60 minutes.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1944, Davis grew up in an environment saturated with both terror and resistance.
    — Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of saturate
Verb
  • The swimmer drowned about 4:45 p.m. in the river near the 2500 block of Roberts Cut Off Road.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In one of the most stunning miracles in all of biblical literature, God parts the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross but causes the waters to rejoin when the Egyptian army enters, drowning the dictator and his army.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of drown
Verb
  • That prior system drenched the Midwest and South, killing at least 18 people and forcing widespread evacuations.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The storm system, born of warm air, strong winds, abundant moisture and an unstable atmosphere, drenched the middle of the country through the weekend, devastating communities from Texas to Ohio with flooding and tornadoes.
    — Patrick J. Lyons, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of drench
Verb
  • The distillation involves macerating the botanicals and distilling them in small batches, ensuring the quality and consistency of each bottle.
    — Rachel King, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
  • Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy Made from grapes sourced from vineyards in Montalcino that have northwest and southwest sun exposure and soils comprising jasper and shale, this 100 percent Sangiovese is fermented and macerated for at least 20 days after harvest.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of macerate

Browse Nearby Words

impregnableness
impregnate
impregnated
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Cite this Entry

“Impregnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impregnate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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