DRENCH Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

drench

verb

ˈdrench

Definition of drench

as in to wet

to make wet we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 drench Her performance tonight, drenched in red and flanked by violins, was a testament to the timeless appeal of her voice. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026 Category 5 Hurricane Polo will impact Baja California early next week, and splash New Mexico and western Texas with drenching rains soon after. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 Bad Paint Choices and Jobs Buyers can get turned off by overly bold paint colors, whether on a single focal wall or drenching an entire room. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 21 Sep. 2026 His trippy designs, drenched in bright pink, blue, and yellow, initially ended up in storage after some officials questioned their psychedelic vibe. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drench

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drench

Verb

Crumble up and wet a small piece, then gently rub it over spots and stains.

— Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of wet

Verb

The two large bathrooms had plenty of closet space and a deep soaking tub (there’s a third small powder room off the living area).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
With heavy rain soaking the region on Thursday, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several rivers, including the Missouri River and locations along it.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of soak

Verb

Workers and employers are drowning in their health insurance premiums.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of drown

Verb

Using sine wave generators and pink lighting so saturated it essentially blots out all other color and shadow, Young and Zazeela created a space that’s somehow both static and full of life.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
By many accounts, Glass is a friendly, obliging collaborator, and his music—fruitfully self-effacing, rarely complex enough to saturate or overwhelm the listener’s attention—behaves the same way.

— Matthew Aucoin, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of saturate

Verb

At high tide, the waves wash into his living room, depositing saltwater treasures and unlikely new friends.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
The result is a single zone that can wash, chop, drain and dry without a cook ever moving to a new surface.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of wash

Verb

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
However, following reports that Jagger impregnated Brazilian model Luciana Morad, Hall went to file for divorce only to find out their nuptials were never legally binding.

— Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of impregnate

Verb

Nowhere was that fact clearer than after each concert in the casino where rivers of black Metallica T-shirts flooded the pit.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
But suddenly everything will change, and clouds will come in, and in 10 to 15 minutes, rain will start and flood everywhere.

— William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of flood

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dreich

drench

drenched

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“Drench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drench. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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