soaking 1 of 3

adjective

as in dripping
containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water the fisherman couldn't wait to take off his soaking socks

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soaking

2 of 3

noun

as in gouging

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soaking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of soak
1
as in saturating
to wet thoroughly with liquid we ran for home as soon as the rain started, but our clothes still ended up soaked

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2
as in stinging
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services a merchant who soaks the tourists every summer

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3
as in wetting
to make wet that downpour soaked my hair, and now I look like a sight

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4
as in drinking
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages depressed about his love life, he repaired to a bar to soak

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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 soaking
Adjective
Pre-soaking socks in baking soda, vinegar, or oxygen bleach removes stains and brightens whites. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 30 July 2026
Noun
Each room features charming details (four-poster beds, lavish soaking tubs, Edwardian wallpaper) with views of the grounds—including the property’s magical Shakespearean walking garden. — Christina Pérez, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 The latest power ports are in place, and expansive bathrooms have excellent shower pressure, plus deep soaking tubs to scrub off a day of exploration. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 No severe weather is expected, but parts of the metro could get a good soaking at times. — Joseph Dames, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 The primary bedroom overlooks the High Line, with an en-suite bathroom that has a separate soaking tub and glass shower stall. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 26 Sep. 2026 That same year Tropical Storm Nora gave landlocked southwestern Arizona an unusual soaking. — John Raby, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 The outdoor spaces include front and rear patios, stone retaining walls, a top-floor sitting deck and a Japanese soaking tub. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Asteroids frequently undergo violent collisions, heating, and internal soaking from melting ice. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026 But those who get too close risk far more than a soaking, as Niagara is a graveyard for the reckless, the unfortunate and the desperate. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
The primary suite, on the other hand, focuses on numero uno, offering custom closets and a bathroom with both a soaking tub and a separate shower. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026 The bathroom’s been updated, too, with a soaking tub and blocky tiling. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 12 Oct. 2026 The remnants of Hurricane Isaias will finally move out on Monday after dousing the Philadelphia region with soaking rain all day Sunday. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 The modern cabin has heated concrete floors and a propane fireplace for staying snug inside, while outside, there’s a fire pit and a soaking tub. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will be providing updates throughout the weekend as the storm makes its way across the region, soaking the South in rain and taking out trees and power lines along the way. — AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026 The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel are soaking Southern California and the Desert Southwest after moving over land early Sunday morning. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 After soaking, Funk says to plant immediately, water the soil thoroughly, and ensure the plant doesn’t experience additional drought stress. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Oct. 2026 Last winter destroyed thousands of tents in Gaza, soaking clothes, mattresses, and bedding, even as Save the Children reported that Israel was blocking critical aid such as tent poles, winter clothes, and blankets. — Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soaking
  1. dripping
  2. gouging
  3. saturating
  4. stinging
  5. wetting
  6. drinking
  7. saturated
  8. overcharging
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
Noun
  • For Abbott and for Ken Paxton, who beat Cornyn in an eye-gouging, rabbit-punching Republican Senate primary, the answer was, for all intents, the latter.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Other advantages include the fact that ownership of compute may reduce dependency on price fluctuations and gouging.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Definition of gouging
Verb
  • Hazardous floods could occur if back-to-back storms dump heavy rains over several days, saturating the soil in the mountains and filling reservoirs.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Fortunately, labels both affordable and luxury are coming out with new takes on this trend like clockwork, saturating the market with colorful jackets for every personal aesthetic and practical need under the sun (or, more accurately, the rain).
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of saturating
Verb
  • That money has been transformed into frequent online and television ads either stinging or lauding the two candidates.
    — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Indy struggled against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in its season opener, then took a stinging 33-30 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
    — Elise Devlin, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of stinging
Verb
  • Havenith said deliberately wetting clothing can provide evaporative cooling, including for older adults who may not sweat as effectively.
    — Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • For best results, water deeply at the base of the plant, allowing moisture to soak into the root zone rather than wetting the foliage, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wetting
Verb
  • Many consumers are drinking less or buying ready-to-drink beverages such as beer and canned cocktails.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result was 90% of farmers in the country living in poverty with virtually all of them drinking unclean water.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of drinking
Adjective
  • Gummy is all rounded corners—literally no sharp edges—and saturated color that feels alive.
    — Steven John, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Highly saturated, Beckham wanted a red lipstick moves with you—sans flaking, smudging, or transferring.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of saturated
Noun
  • That overcharging could prompt the system to shut down the car’s electric drive system and result in a loss of drive power.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Tourists should also be aware of overcharging and scams from aggressive vendors.
    — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Definition of overcharging

Browse Nearby Words

soakers
soaking
soaking (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Soaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soaking. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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