IMBUE Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'imbue' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of imbue are infuse , ingrain , inoculate , leaven , and suffuse . While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being. // imbue students with intellectual curiosity

Q: When can 'infuse' be used instead of 'imbue'?

In some situations, the words infuse and imbue are roughly equivalent. However, infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance. // new members infused enthusiasm into the club

Q: When might 'ingrain' be a better fit than 'imbue'?

The words ingrain and imbue can be used in similar contexts, but ingrain , used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait. // clung to ingrained habits

Q: In what contexts can 'inoculate' take the place of 'imbue'?

While the synonyms inoculate and imbue are close in meaning, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety. // an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

Q: When would 'leaven' be a good substitute for 'imbue'?

Although the words leaven and imbue have much in common, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality. // a serious play leavened with comic moments

Q: Where would 'suffuse' be a reasonable alternative to 'imbue'?

While in some cases nearly identical to imbue , suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality. // a room suffused with light

imbue

verb

im-ˈbyü

Definition of imbue next

as in to suffuse

to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle her training at the school for the deaf imbued her with a sense of purpose that she had never known before

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb imbue differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of imbue are infuse, ingrain, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

When can infuse be used instead of imbue?

In some situations, the words infuse and imbue are roughly equivalent. However, infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When might ingrain be a better fit than imbue?

The words ingrain and imbue can be used in similar contexts, but ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

In what contexts can inoculate take the place of imbue?

While the synonyms inoculate and imbue are close in meaning, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When would leaven be a good substitute for imbue?

Although the words leaven and imbue have much in common, leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Where would suffuse be a reasonable alternative to imbue?

While in some cases nearly identical to imbue, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

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 imbue Constructed with indigenous wood and bamboo and imbued with a vibrant flower garden, this rustic hotel provides guests with a glimpse into the traditional architecture and culture of Araucanía, with ten colorful rooms to choose from across the property. —

Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 Often imbuing a sense of warmth, texture, and rich details, Spanish colonial types of homes are still common in Southern California and beyond, but often with a modern twist. —

Lauren Gallow, Architectural Digest, 10 Jan. 2025 Their identification of projects demanding to be brought to life in a very specific aesthetic key — from page to screen — imbues the resulting work with unique personality and hopefully deeper emotional connections from audiences. —

Nick Clement, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025 Unlike documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’s slow-zoom, Smithsonian's series is imbuing the images with new colors. —

Sarah Goodman, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for imbue