drench

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of drench are impregnate, saturate, soak, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

In what contexts can impregnate take the place of drench?

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

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

When might saturate be a better fit than drench?

The words saturate and drench are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

When could soak be used to replace drench?

While in some cases nearly identical to drench, soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

When would steep be a good substitute for drench?

The meanings of steep and drench largely overlap; however, 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 drench Rain is expected to drench lower elevations, while gusty winds of up to 30 mph or more could disrupt travel from the Carolinas to New England. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024 Photographed by Mayan Toledano During a brief break, active cheerleaders jog off the field to the water coolers, chests heaving and drenched with sweat. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2024 Arizona might get drenched with rain and snow this winter. Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024 Two systems in the Atlantic basin — Hurricane Rafael and a disturbance northeast of the Leeward Islands — are drenching parts of the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for drench 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drench
Verb
  • Advertisement The Southland remains in high fire season, which could last into the new year without a wetting rainfall, and forecasters say more Santa Ana winds are on the way.
    Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Placing the plant in a dish filled with water allows its roots to soak up the moisture and keep your plant hydrated, without wetting the soil up top, where gnat larvae tend to live.
    Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Drain the bowl or sink, refill with fresh water, and repeat the soaking process until the water runs clear.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2024
  • While many modern hotels, especially those with smaller rooms, are forgoing soaking tubs for simple shower spaces, this design choice truly enhances the guest experience.
    Amanda Lauren, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The moon's light will likely drown out dimmer meteors.
    Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Doka has spent his childhood playing on land that would have been drowned by the Orme Reservoir, building forts in the woods, jumping over irrigation ditches and playing with his cousins.
    Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That’s when my cheeks started to burn; mortification saturated my body.
    Ariela Gittlen, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Tennessee: Tragedy hits rural community Like much of Western North Carolina, East Tennessee was saturated with rain before Helene’s arrival.
    USA TODAY Graphics team, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • That is particularly true if clothing is washed in cold water and the water doesn’t need to be heated.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
  • The children collect plastic bottles to make fires, and pile under the blankets when their only set of clothes is washed and dried in the wind.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Instead, the narrative focuses on Karoline (Vic Carmen Sonne), a factory worker in the wake of World War I who is impregnated by her rich boss and then discarded after his mother disapproves.
    Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 6 Dec. 2024
  • The production designer was referencing an early film in his career, a comedy headlined by Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston in which the former ruins the sperm sample the latter intends to use to impregnate herself, forcing him to supply his own specimen in its stead.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The storm flooded homes and inflicted major damage across the western coast of Florida, pushing up a massive surge of water throughout the Tampa Bay area before marching into Georgia and the Carolinas.
    Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024
  • Hate toward these immigrants flooded Russia after a Moscow concert hall was attacked by terrorists associated with an Islamic State branch active in Central Asia.
    Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic, 27 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near drench

Cite this Entry

“Drench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drench. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on drench

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!