saturate 1 of 2

saturate

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adjective

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of saturate are drench, impregnate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

In what contexts can drench take the place of saturate?

In some situations, the words drench and saturate are roughly equivalent. However, drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

When could impregnate be used to replace saturate?

While the synonyms impregnate and saturate are close in meaning, impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Where would soak be a reasonable alternative to saturate?

Although the words soak and saturate have much in common, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When would steep be a good substitute for saturate?

While in some cases nearly identical to saturate, 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 saturate
Verb
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007) The year 2007 was saturated with video-game movies, and none more expansive than A Dungeon Siege Tale, which is what happens when Uwe Boll gets the budget of his dreams. Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025 The compounds have operated for years, shielded by corruption and lawlessness that has long saturated Myanmar’s border regions. Teele Rebane, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
However, even when hair is dry and thick, experts advise washing at least twice a week to remove all the residues that can accumulate on the scalp, and that saturate and weaken the hair. Ana Morales, Vogue, 15 Aug. 2023 To use, spray directly on the stain and saturate well. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2023 See All Example Sentences for saturate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saturate
Verb
  • Injuries swept through the roster like an Orlando thunderstorm — sudden and soaking.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 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
Adjective
  • Follow the journalist for a continued conversation about the risks of injectables, why founders need to invest in TikTok, and how to maintain success as a beauty brand in 2024’s saturated market.
    Dahvi Shira, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • These foods are high in saturated fats, which contribute to chronic inflammation, gut issues, and weight gain—all of which can lead to liver problems.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2025
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
  • Most of the Titanic’s passengers and crew didn’t drown inside the wreck, Nargeolet points out, but died of hypothermia in the 100 minutes before the Carpathia found a sea of floating corpses.
    Sean Kingsley, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2025
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
Verb
  • Among them is Edmonia Lewis, whose 1875 sculpture Hagar depicts an Egyptian woman from the Bible who was impregnated by her enslaver’s husband.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Continuous lamination creates thin or wide composite laminates by impregnating reinforcements with resin, pressing them into a lay-up, and curing them under heat and pressure.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Stepping inside the small six-suite residence in the city’s trendy Kolonaki neighborhood, you’re immediately immersed in the creative renaissance of modern Athens.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
  • True to his word, Sharpe has immersed himself in the craft, mastering everything from tasting notes to the intricate distillation processes in Cognac, France.
    Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Saturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saturate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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