Synonyms of drench

drench

verb

ˈdrench 

1

as in to wet

to make wet

we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wet
• drown
• wash
• flood
• soak
• water
• bathe
• rinse
• douse
• sodden
• waterlog
• sprinkle
• wet down
• submerge
• dowse
• flush
• moisten
• damp
• water-soak
• dip
• drizzle
• sop
• mist
• saturate
• bedraggle
• shower
• souse
• inundate
• splash
• hydrate
• dampen
• deluge
• moisturize
• irrigate
• bedew
• humidify
• impregnate
• hose (down)
• overflow
• swamp
• lave
• asperse
• steep
• slosh
• dunk
• rehydrate
• sluice
• duck
• rewash
• rewet

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• scorch
• parch
• dehydrate
• evaporate
• desiccate
• sear
• dewater
• wring
• freeze-dry
• dehumidify
• drip-dry

2

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid

when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soak
• saturate
• drown
• impregnate
• immerse
• wash
• macerate
• submerge
• steep
• dip
• sodden
• sop
• penetrate
• souse
• water
• inundate
• bathe
• marinate
• waterlog
• moisten
• permeate
• douse
• infiltrate
• seethe
• hydrate
• swamp
• water-soak
• dampen
• damp
• dowse
• presoak
• swill
• humidify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• wring (out)
• drain
• dehydrate
• empty
• sear
• void
• parch
• desiccate
• dehumidify

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of drench

Following a week or more of dry warm weather rains drenched Miami Tuesday afternoon and evening. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2025

Farrow and Ball Sulking Room Pink Jess Ebert, founder and creative director of Four Story Interiors, drenched a dining room with average ceilings and low light in Farrow and Ball Sulking Room Pink to give it warmth and life, despite its smaller size. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Feb. 2025

The couple’s child — then two months shy of turning 2 — was found at the scene 18 hours after the crime, pocked in mosquito bites and drenched in her mother’s blood, per the document, which was shared online by Florida State University. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025

At a street crossing, a man in a wheelchair was getting drenched while waiting for the light to turn green. —Ronnie Li, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2025