soak 1 of 2

noun

Definition of soaknext
as in alcoholic
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

soak

2 of 2

verb

ˈsōk How to pronounce soak (audio)
1
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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2
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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3
as in to wet
to make wet that downpour soaked my hair, and now I look like a sight

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4
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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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

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 soak
Noun
With no air-con and copious heat-soak through the rear bulkhead (the glass panel behind your head gets almost too hot to touch), driving it hard also feels like a physical workout. — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 May 2026 Home beauty routines have moved well beyond sheet masks and foot soaks, with LED panels, chemical peels and brow lamination kits all promising salon-level results. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2026
Verb
The hotel’s wellness focus extends to the bathrooms, which boast walk-in showers, claw-foot soaking tubs, and double-sink marble vanities embellished with ornate gilt mirrors. — Veronica M. Stoddart, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026 The space has a dramatic 28-foot Palladian rotunda, a saltwater soaking tub, a sauna, a steam room and a wall of water that creates a soothing, flowing sound. — Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for soak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak
  1. alcoholic
  2. saturate
  3. gouge
  4. wet
  5. drink
  6. soaker
  7. drown
  8. sting
Noun
  • Dinner is a three-course meal, accompanied by one complimentary alcoholic beverage, while additional menu options are also available.
    — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • Kerouac was dead from complications of alcohol use, Welch, another alcoholic, was gone too, vanished into the Sierra foothills, a suicide.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Definition of alcoholic
Verb
  • Mid-range uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) can suppress, distract, saturate, and expose Russian air defenses.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Forbes says the lowest dose shown to saturate muscles is 3 grams per day.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 29 June 2026
Definition of saturate
Verb
  • The agencies also encouraged states with price-gouging statutes to determine whether enforcement actions are warranted under those laws.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • Trump recently posted on his Truth Social account that big oil companies were not dropping gas prices fast enough, and that Americans were being gouged.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of gouge
Verb
  • Before applying the resurfacer, blow or sweep off any leaves or debris, then wet the surface to prevent the concrete from drying too quickly.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026
  • Taking regular cool showers and baths, wetting clothes or towels with cold water and putting your pillowcases in the fridge or freezer can all help further cool your body down, and hopefully, get a good night’s sleep.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 2 July 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • The robot staff behind the scenes Pudu's FlashBot will run an intelligent vending system, allowing guests to order drink deliveries by smartphone.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • Consider using a watering wand, soaker hose, or drip irrigation system to target the soil directly rather than the foliage.
    — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
  • If possible, water at the base of plants using driplines or soaker hoses.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
Definition of soaker
Verb
  • The death marked the fourth fatal drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2026, according to the patrol’s data.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
  • The team’s supporters filled a few compact sections, islands of green drowned out in a sea of blue Kylian Mbappé jerseys.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • Significant stinging insect infestations like wasps and carpenter bees may also require a specialized plan that isn’t included in your general pest control service.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Democrats are still stung by Rogan’s nearly three-hour Trump interview in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Definition of sting

Phrases Containing soak

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Cite this Entry

“Soak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soak. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on soak

Nglish: Translation of soak for Spanish Speakers

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