SATURATE Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

saturate 1 of 2

verb

ˈsa-chə-ˌrāt

Definition of saturate

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid saturate your hair with water before applying the dye

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saturate

2 of 2

adjective

ˈsach-rət

as in saturated

containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water the test will only work if the sample cloth is saturate with solution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Soak a 36-inch piece of 100%-cotton cheesecloth in the broth mixture until saturated. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Oct. 2026 Tory Burch excels at activating her frow-goers, dispatching content creators like Tefi Pessoa and Kennedy Eurich as correspondents, who saturate social media with guest interviews and interactions. — Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 Fully saturate mid-lengths to ends, avoiding your scalp entirely. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for saturate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for saturate

Verb

Previous research from the same site suggests that Neanderthals may have soaked and cooked meals of plants and legumes together.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Strong overnight storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to the Kansas City area, leaving parts of the metro soaked with 1 to 2 inches of rain.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of soak

Adjective

Yet Netflix's growth has slowed in recent years amid mounting competition from other streaming platforms and a saturated North American market.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Authentic Individualism By 2027, the essential skill communicators need won’t be using AI but maintaining authentic individualism in an AI-saturated world.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of saturated

Adjective

Even while dripping in haute couture, Edebiri somehow never appears stuffy or unapproachable — quite the opposite.

— Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Bleeding Ombré The mix of red and black shades to get you that dripping blood effect in an ombré nail is striking on its own.

— Michella Oré, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of dripping

Verb

Janelle Monáe is absolutely drenched in fake blood and standing in the middle of a cemetery.

— Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
After an in medias res introduction with Cardellini’s Pamela starring at herself in the mirror, drenched in blood, the story goes back nine months and we’re introduced to a cleaner Pamela working the kitchen at Camp Crystal Lake in New Jersey.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of drench

Adjective

In a small 2024 study, participants who consumed 10 grams of soaked basil seeds daily for eight weeks had lower levels of several inflammatory markers.

— Lindsey DeSoto, HEALTH, 23 Sep. 2026
Fortunately for us, there are plenty of ways to mix the two this weekend — from spa deals and rum-soaked revelry to a nostalgic hard rock show or a night of stress-busting belly laughs.

— Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of soaked

Verb

The girl was found in Mexico along with her father, 38-year-old Sergio Galvez Perez, who authorities allege abused and impregnated her.

— Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Its most recent seasons took a decidedly anti-Trump turn, featuring a caricature of the president impregnating Satan.

— David K. Li, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of impregnate

Browse Nearby Words

sat tight

saturate

saturated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Saturate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saturate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of saturate

verb

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes