infused; infusing
Synonyms of infuse

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to be permeated with something (such as a principle or quality) that alters usually for the better
infuse the team with confidence
b
: introduce, insinuate
… a new spirit was infused into American art …Amer. Guide Series: NY
2
: inspire, animate
the sense of purpose that infuses scientific research
3
: to steep in liquid (such as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles
4
: to administer or inject by infusion
stem cells were infused into the patient
infuser noun

infuser

2 of 2

noun

in·​fus·​er
-zə(r)
plural -s
: one that infuses
especially : a device for infusing tea leaves
Choose the Right Synonym for infuse

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout.

infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

Examples of infuse in a Sentence

Verb She has infused her followers with confidence. He has found ways to infuse new energy into his performances. She has infused confidence into her followers. His work is infused with anger. The tea should be allowed to infuse for several minutes. You should infuse the tea for several minutes.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Crucially, AtHeart re-records the melody, giving them creative freedom to infuse a faster, funkier beat. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The Sagittarius moon coordinates with Saturn, infusing your goals with a stronger sense of purpose. Usa Today, USA Today, 27 June 2026 For a floral dessert perfect for summer gatherings or tea time, consider these rose raspberry macarons that are infused with delicate rose water. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026 Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships. Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for infuse

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English infusen (usually in past participle enfusid, infused) "to pour in, introduce, soak," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French enfuser (in past participle enfusé) "to steep," borrowed from Latin infūsus, past participle of infundere "to pour in, instill, cause to fall or stream," from in- in- entry 2 + fundere "to pour, shed, cast, send forth, disperse" — more at found entry 5

First Known Use

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of infuse was in 1526

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infuse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

infused; infusing
1
: to put in as if by pouring
infused courage into her followers
2
: to steep without boiling
infuse tea

Medical Definition

infused; infusing

transitive verb

1
: to steep in liquid (as water) without boiling so as to extract the soluble constituents or principles
2
: to administer or inject by infusion especially intravenously
infuse the blood with glucose
infuse a solution of lactate

intransitive verb

: to administer a solution by infusion

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