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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
At the top, an indoor–outdoor onsen draws mineral-rich water from deep beneath Tokyo, providing a restorative soak with views of the city skyline. —Kelsey Eisen, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026 Heavier odors, like those left by perspiration, may require a baking soda soak prior to washing. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the bathroom, a soaking tub and shower can be found. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 Clocking in at 8,500 square feet, this Tuscan-style villa evokes an old-world winery with soaring ceilings, limestone from a French chateau, as well as amenities like a soaking tub and billiards room. —Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 2 Apr. 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
  • The whisky priest, an alcoholic who has broken most of his vows, is the sole remaining active priest in the state.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
  • But on the other hand, a rehab center for alcoholics doesn’t fold because one of its participants goes on a bender.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of alcoholic
Verb
  • Rinse your scrubber and squeegee blade frequently, and swap out cloths when they get saturated.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
  • However, bright events often saturate detectors and are missed, so citizen reports to AMS often alert professionals and prompt manual archive checks.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of saturate
Verb
  • The session culminated in two new price-gouging laws.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Nobody likes being price gouged, whether at the gas pump, ticket purchase, or a rideshare.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of gouge
Verb
  • Lightly wet a microfiber cloth with warm water, being careful not to over-soak it.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Considerations Before Getting Started Before cleaning your sidewalks, gather some basic safety equipment such as gloves and eye protection, and protect plants and grass bordering your sidewalk from bleach and cleaners by wetting them down and covering them with plastic sheeting or old towels.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • One night, at a house party, John and I ended up in the back yard, drinking beer.
    — Jeffrey Eugenides, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Younger consumers are drinking more deliberately, agreed Caroline Begley, vice president of marketing for Pernod Ricard USA in New York City.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of drink
Noun
  • If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
  • If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of soaker
Verb
  • The Project’s participants were instructed to fight one another and endure simulated drowning, among other humiliations and discomforts, while remaining awake for most of three days.
    — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Authorities alleged Goldberg followed her and tried to drown her before a bystander intervened.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • Alcohol can be stinging and drying to the skin.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Anyone who is stung repeatedly or has trouble breathing should call 911.
    — Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of soak for Spanish Speakers

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