drench

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of drench are impregnate, saturate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

In what contexts can impregnate take the place of drench?

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

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When might saturate be a better fit than drench?

The words saturate and drench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

When could soak be used to replace drench?

While in some cases nearly identical to drench, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When would steep be a good substitute for drench?

The meanings of steep and drench largely overlap; 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

Examples 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 drench Even as a bomb cyclone drenches much of Oregon this week, don't expect to find many residents taking refuge under umbrellas. Meira Gebel, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024 Last year brought similar conditions as California was beset by a series of drenching atmospheric rivers and storms, one of which killed two people. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Nov. 2024 Sliding glass doors are located on the ends of the house on both floors, allowing natural light to drench the interior. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024 Flooding rain in forecast for central US through Election Day The National Weather Service said a line of storms sweeping across Oklahoma will drench the state in heavy rain and spin up possible tornadoes Monday and overnight into Tuesday, forecasters say. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for drench 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drench
Verb
  • Advertisement The Southland remains in high fire season, which could last into the new year without a wetting rainfall, and forecasters say more Santa Ana winds are on the way.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Placing the plant in a dish filled with water allows its roots to soak up the moisture and keep your plant hydrated, without wetting the soil up top, where gnat larvae tend to live.
    Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • With heated floors, gas fireplaces, and large soaking tubs, the rooms here are the ideal place to warm up from the chilly winter weather.
    Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2024
  • There’s a deck with a soaking tub for two that overlooks towering trees and that also offers impeccable stargazing views.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The more vigorous the struggle to escape, the more debt that consumes the drowning victim.
    Forrest Claypool, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Long gained some notoriety in Congress for his skills as an auctioneer, once using the talent to drown out protesters during a hearing.
    Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • You were bound to feel the full extent of these eclipses, as your birth chart is saturated with intense cardinal sign energy (that is, the energy of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn).
    Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Place the container in a bright location out of direct sunlight and keep the soil moist but not saturated.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • And make sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The short clip, which was posted on December 2, has been viewed more than 22.2 million times and liked by over 3.3 million users, prompting many to share advice on how to wash cats in the comments.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • With her husband’s cooperation, a coven of Devil-worshipping ghouls occupy an Upper West Side apartment building and conspire to have a young woman Rosemary (Mia Farrow) raped and impregnated by Satan himself.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Other kinds of solar filters are made from dark polymer resin impregnated with carbon black.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • In a world flooded with ads and messages, the brands that stand out are the ones that create real, human connections through their stories.
    Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • A lot of fans flooded his comments to echo the same sentiments.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near drench

Cite this Entry

“Drench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drench. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on drench

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