SOAK Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'soak' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of soak are drench , impregnate , saturate , and steep . While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. // soak the garment in soapy water

Q: When might 'drench' be a better fit than 'soak'?

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

Q: Where would 'impregnate' be a reasonable alternative to 'soak'?

The words impregnate and soak can be used in similar contexts, but impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another. // a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Q: When could 'saturate' be used to replace 'soak'?

The synonyms saturate and soak are sometimes interchangeable, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held. // a saturated sponge

Q: When can 'steep' be used instead of 'soak'?

While in some cases nearly identical to soak , 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

soak 1 of 2

noun

Definition of soak next

as in alcoholic

a person who makes a habit of getting drunk felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

soak

2 of 2

verb

ˈsōk

as in to saturate

to wet thoroughly with liquid we ran for home as soon as the rain started, but our clothes still ended up soaked

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to gouge

to charge (someone) too much for goods or services a merchant who soaks the tourists every summer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

undercharge

as in to wet

to make wet that downpour soaked my hair, and now I look like a sight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to drink

to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages depressed about his love life, he repaired to a bar to soak

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

abstain

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of soak are drench, impregnate, saturate, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When might drench be a better fit than soak?

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

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

Where would impregnate be a reasonable alternative to soak?

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

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When could saturate be used to replace soak?

The synonyms saturate and soak are sometimes interchangeable, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

When can steep be used instead of soak?

While in some cases nearly identical to soak, 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 of soak in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Adding a couple of generous soaks to your fall lawn care agenda will help your landscape transition to winter before the soil freezes. —

Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2024 Who should avoid using a foot spa? People with certain conditions or ailments should avoid foot soaks unless otherwise instructed by their doctor. —

Daley Quinn Published, Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The dog moved from window to window, soaking it all up. —

Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 Warmer air is also able to hold more moisture, soaking it up like a sponge to wring out in the form of torrential rain. —

Sophie Tanno, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for soak

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak

Noun

On the other side of the spectrum is Tamra, who spent the entire season screaming at Shannon for being an alcoholic.

Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2024
The recovering alcoholic had come dangerously close to relapsing at that same bar on the same night, ordering a drink and staring at it for an hour before leaving without taking a sip.

Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2024