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
  • Because their parents were alcoholics, Acosta all but raised her younger sister, Julie Andrew, according to Andrew's testimony during Tanzi's trial.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • His father, a salesman for a small company that manufactured grocery-store fixtures, was an alcoholic whose periodic drinking binges devastated the family.
    Dennis McLellan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Understanding The Periphery Advantage In many metropolitan areas, central districts are becoming increasingly saturated and expensive.
    Rodolfo Delgado, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Spring fashion is often saturated with flowy, floral dresses, breezy linens, and the art of mixing and matching textures, cuts, and patterns.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 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
  • Han recommends wetting a beauty sponge to add extra coverage to smaller areas of concern, including your hairline and around your nose.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Austin threatened McMahon with a toy gun, leading to a memorable moment at the expense of McMahon wetting himself.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The midshipmen poured water into the cup, taking turns drinking from it in a victory celebration.
    Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 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
  • The swimmer drowned about 4:45 p.m. in the river near the 2500 block of Roberts Cut Off Road.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In one of the most stunning miracles in all of biblical literature, God parts the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross but causes the waters to rejoin when the Egyptian army enters, drowning the dictator and his army.
    Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Hit the ball too far up the handle, or off the end of the head, and the bat will flex and vibrate, transferring less energy to the ball and stinging the batter’s hands.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Pets who have an encounter with stinging caterpillars will need a vet visit ASAP.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Soak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/soak. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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