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

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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to gouge

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

undercharge

as in to wet

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to drink

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

Those few seconds of soak time make all the difference, allowing the cleanser to lift residue instead of relying on elbow grease. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026 Look for creators to pivot from salt piles to warm salt baths, foot soaks and cooler post-bath routines. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Verb

Meltwater from the mountain’s glaciers and thawing permafrost flows down through ancient channels, fueling the great rivers and soaking into these sprawling boglands. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Previous research from the same site suggests that Neanderthals may have soaked and cooked meals of plants and legumes together. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for soak

Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak

Noun

Premiering in 2013, Faris starred in the first seven seasons of Mom as Christy, a recovering alcoholic who struggles to maintain a job, her family and her sobriety as her mom Bonnie (Allison Janney), who’s also in recovery, moves in with her.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
The answers to these questions are very important to our community of addicts and alcoholics, both in and out of recovery.

— David Manheim, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of alcoholic

Verb

Colors were suitably accurate and nicely saturated, and the image offered good contrast across the board from dark to bright scenes, along with impressively good shadow detail and a sense of three-dimensionality in dark scenes.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
That translated into a vibrant palette of rock ‘n roll, soul, metal, hip-hop, and of course the rich Seattle sound that saturates daily life for Jones.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of saturate

Verb

Insurance carriers are often able to negotiate a better rate for the tow, if he was indeed getting gouged.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
During Fortescue’s early years, the environmental toll of gouging metals from the earth was all but an afterthought.

— Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of gouge

Verb

One of these chambers contains a disc of fabric that is pre-wetted with water, one contains a foaming agent made up of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium bicarbonate (the main component of baking soda), and one contains a drop of eye medication.

— Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Per a guide from Nectr, saliva wets the pouch and releases its ingredients, and how much is actually absorbed depends on the formulation and how the pouch is used.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of wet

Verb

Food and drink The restaurant and bars (there are two) are the main draws here and will no doubt draw locals like me in addition to out-of-towners.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
There’s no shortage of detailed guides telling visitors to Paris where exactly to eat and drink.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of drink

Noun

All of the suites have gas fireplaces, king-sized beds, deep soaker tubs, and plush sitting areas.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Engel recommends using a soaker hose for even watering or, for trees, water bags as great ways to make sure the root ball area stays consistently moist.

— Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of soaker

Verb

Equally weighting stocks ensures companies in smaller industries aren’t drowned out by massive ones, like Big Tech.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Other components in blood can produce stronger signals that drown them out, according to a scientific review published in Applied Spectroscopy.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of drown

Verb

Continue reading … CROSSING THE AISLE — Manchin delivers stinging rebuke to Schumer with surprise Senate campaign stop.

— , FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of sting

Browse Nearby Words

soak

soaked

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Soak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soak. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of soak

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of soak

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing soak

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes