as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
shell collecting can be so absorbing that you don't notice the tide coming in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
most of the spilled water was absorbed by the tablecloth
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
chatting on the phone doesn't absorb me so much that I can't do something else at the same time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in integrating
to make a part of a body or system
local schools will seek to absorb the new immigrants into the regular curriculum as quickly as possible
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in draining
to make complete use of
cleaning the house absorbed the rest of his energy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in tolerating
to put up with (something painful or difficult)
somehow she managed to absorb whatever hardships life offered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 absorbing
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The tablets are quick-absorbing and free from soy, gluten, dairy, fish and yeast.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
City News Service, Daily News, 27 May 2026
The American system for absorbing risk — its capital markets, its legal protections, its insurance and reinsurance infrastructure — is the deepest and most sophisticated in the world.
—Jim Williamson, Fortune, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for absorbing
Adjective
Operator errors, including violations of safety protocols and the removal of most absorbing rods, also played a role.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
The tablets are quick-absorbing and free from soy, gluten, dairy, fish and yeast.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
On Saturday, an oil sheen was observed near the PCH bridge, so crews placed oil-absorbing booms at multiple points along the river, including Willow Street, PCH, Ocean Blvd and the approach to Golden Shore.
—City News Service, Daily News, 27 May 2026
The American system for absorbing risk — its capital markets, its legal protections, its insurance and reinsurance infrastructure — is the deepest and most sophisticated in the world.
—Jim Williamson, Fortune, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for absorbing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absorbing
Adjective
-
News broadcasts recap island events, adding an interesting soap-opera layer.—
Jason Bennett,
Arkansas Online,
24 May 2026
-
Welcome to Taste Test, where every week our critic Jonah Flicker explores the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The project's cover artwork depicts Role Model (whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury) drinking from a beer bottle while sitting near a man and woman eating cake and looking at him while seemingly dressed for their wedding.—
Jack Irvin,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
-
This is not like drinking a glass of water.—
Catherine Ellis,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
And while the company presented more data on that drug Tuesday, showing promising first-line and combination data on daraxonrasib, scientists also showed in another session intriguing preclinical data on a completely new compound that may represent what comes after the current lineup.—
Angus Chen,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
-
There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But integrating chatbots made for adults into toys for kids poses its own array of threats, Padilla told the Union-Tribune.—
Noelle Harff,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
Fernandez Bibeau’s portfolio as parks commissioner, effective June 1, will include integrating green infrastructure into the city’s broader open space strategy and strengthening coordination across cabinets to advance the city’s climate goals.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
All this self-agonizing left the rest of the cast and crew waiting around for hours, their goodwill draining away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
To save space, grow several shade-tolerant herbs together in a large container (such as a half whiskey barrel) with some well-draining potting mix.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
That means tolerating a certain level of damage from leaf-eating insects.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
The habit of tolerating boredom and refusing to treat it as a signal to quit turns out to be a competitive advantage hiding in plain sight.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
It's designed to help students and families build financial confidence in a fun and engaging way.—
Najahe Sherman,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
-
Writing about Monroe’s reading habits demands a lot of speculation on the part of Crowther, who’s written engaging books on Dorothy Parker, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
In other words, avoid swishing seltzers in your mouth, drinking a lot of them or even sipping one throughout the day.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
-
As Rosneqvist celebrated by sipping milk, then dumping it over his head, Malukas was consoled by his father in pit lane.—
Michael Marot,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Absorbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absorbing. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
