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

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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

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as in to gouge

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

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undercharge

as in to wet

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

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as in to drink

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

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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 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 soak

Noun

By Shayla Love Of the first three elements to appear after the Big Bang, only one is available to buy as a bath soak. —

Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2024 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

Verb

Shake the broom to remove any loose debris before soaking the bristles in a bucket of warm water and dish soap for at least 30 minutes. —

Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024 Simply add a few drops of this gentle formula to your bath and soak your cares away while moisturizing your skin with aloe, Vitamin E oil, and castor oil. —

Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for soak

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak

Noun

Her father was exacting, an alcoholic whose fine tweed suits and leather shoes had to be pressed and shined just so.

Constance Grady, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
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