diffuse 1 of 2

diffuse

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective diffuse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of diffuse are prolix, verbose, and wordy. While all these words mean "using more words than necessary to express thought," diffuse stresses lack of compactness and pointedness of style.

diffuse memoirs that are so many shaggy-dog stories

When would prolix be a good substitute for diffuse?

The meanings of prolix and diffuse largely overlap; however, prolix suggests unreasonable and tedious dwelling on details.

habitually transformed brief anecdotes into prolix sagas

When is verbose a more appropriate choice than diffuse?

While the synonyms verbose and diffuse are close in meaning, verbose suggests a resulting dullness, obscurity, or lack of incisiveness or precision.

the verbose position papers

Where would wordy be a reasonable alternative to diffuse?

Although the words wordy and diffuse have much in common, wordy may also imply loquaciousness or garrulity.

a wordy speech

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 diffuse
Adjective
Dragonfly 44 and its ilk are known as ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs). Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 7 Nov. 2022 First, there are two ultra-diffuse galaxies that appear to be satellite members of a massive group dominated by NGC 1052: DF2 and DF4. Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 22 June 2021
Verb
Shelving, backed with a blend of spandex and mesh, diffuses LED light into a soft ambient glow—less like artificial illumination, more like morning light filtered through linen. Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 In other words, our statistics suggest that increases in whaling led to decreases in slavery, and this effect diffused across state lines. Austin Choi-Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diffuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diffuse
Adjective
  • Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.
    Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But this year, Veach says, is different from others in the way the draft’s talent is dispersed.
    Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Its more than $50 million budget was largely dispersed through grants to organizations to identify and combat disinformation from foreign adversaries.
    Laura Kelly, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Funny and sad, exaggerated and honest, Youssef and Brady’s series offers escape and catharsis, all at the same time.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Melodrama gets a bad rap for being too exaggerated, and over-the-top but outrageous circumstances beget heightened emotions.
    Barry Levitt, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Arab Spring should dispel the delusional gospel that the United States should be in the business of saving the world for democracy.
    Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Hinch dispelled any doubts about McKinstry’s place on the roster with more glowing quotes this spring.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There were also happier times, including winning the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015 and two Community Shield trophies, with an extremely talkative Arteta alongside him in midfield.
    Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Finney-Smith has become one of the team’s most talkative players and a consistent source of energy.
    Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Global conflicts over scarce resources will dissipate, giving way to a new era of peace and abundance.
    Billy Perrigo, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The story doesn’t resolve so much as dissipate, in a series of almost comically perfunctory twists, reversals, and whispers of geopolitical peril.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Open, warm, and highly communicative, Chauffe, who performs as hemlock, has made a name for herself around the country by embracing a free-spirited and loose approach to her music and her everyday life.
    Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Image The accusations, however, that the institution’s leaders are neither approachable nor communicative will linger after Mr. Hill’s departure.
    Christopher Maag, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Even outside of the event season, Pismo radiates that classic California charm with wide-open beaches, fresh seafood, and a town that greets everyone with a smile.
    Pismo Beach Conference and Visitor Bureau, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Today, most of Micanopy’s activity radiates from Cholokka Boulevard.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diffuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diffuse. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on diffuse

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!