soak 1 of 2

soak

2 of 2

verb

1
2
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

3
4
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

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
Goods by local artists include handmade jewelry and bath soaks. AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024 The yield is fantastic: perfect, succulent chicken that’s had an aromatic soak with ginger, scallions and garlic; soothing chicken soup; rice that’s been cooked in some of said soup with pandan leaves; and a sparkly ginger-scallion sauce. Mia Leimkuhler, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Premiere Suite has a spacious private terrace overlooking the garden and a soaking tub under the monumental rose window that looks onto the chapel. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2025 The primary suite has a soaking tub, double sink, a stand-alone shower and is outfitted in Calacatta marble. Michael Kaminer, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for soak
Noun
  • Her father was an alcoholic, while her mother, separately, was in an abusive relationship, eventually leading Tui to find a home at a women’s refuge.
    George Ramsay and Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • An alcoholic, my mother was highly abusive, both psychologically and physically.
    Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Make sure each strand is fully saturated, then let the product sit for 40 to 60 minutes.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1944, Davis grew up in an environment saturated with both terror and resistance.
    Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The roof was scorched black and gouged open to the sky, insulation tufting from the walls.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Tickets for the shows are hard to come by as the band is using a face-value ticket exchange to prevent scalpers from gouging fans on the secondary market.
    Ethan Millman, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Diagnosis Exams typically begin with a thorough medical history because there is a genetic component to wet AMD, and other health factors can raise your risk.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Serve Use a lime wedge to wet the rim and the side of the bottle.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Zimmerman, 44, was scheduled to perform a multi-hour set alongside fellow electronic artist Zhu, who could also be seen drinking during the show, according to videos posted to social media.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Van Hollen said those drinks were placed on the table by a Bukele aide, and that neither man drank them.
    Sheetal Banchariya, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That’s different from dealing with homosexual drunks.
    Bryan Washington, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The bus is full of heroes, students, shoppers, phone scrollers, mothers with kids, silent commuters and the occasional drunks.
    Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His playbook involves drowning rivals in legal fees.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Twin brothers died in a drowning incident while fishing in a Mississippi lake last week, officials said.
    Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Now Warning To All iPhone Users Google Pixel’s Unbeatable Upgrade—Bad News For Samsung Being stuck at No. 2 behind Lamar likely stings just a little more than usual for Drake.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • But China is also seeking to build tighter relationships in Asia with nations stung by Trump’s tariffs.
    Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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