Definition of infusenext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb infuse differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of infuse are imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven, and suffuse. While all these words mean "to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

new members infused enthusiasm into the club

When could imbue be used to replace infuse?

While the synonyms imbue and infuse are close in meaning, imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

imbue students with intellectual curiosity

In what contexts can ingrain take the place of infuse?

Although the words ingrain and infuse have much in common, ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

clung to ingrained habits

When is inoculate a more appropriate choice than infuse?

The meanings of inoculate and infuse largely overlap; however, inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

When can leaven be used instead of infuse?

The synonyms leaven and infuse are sometimes interchangeable, but leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

a serious play leavened with comic moments

When would suffuse be a good substitute for infuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to infuse, suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

a room suffused with light

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 infuse If your home is newer, there are so many ways to infuse a historic look into your space through reproduction pieces and details like picture molding. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 27 Apr. 2026 It’s infused with Japanese silk to smooth the hair cuticles, thereby reducing frizz. Deanna Pai, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026 The pulpy setup befits a paperback crime thriller but is infused with some self-aware marital satire. David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026 Even in Emery’s attempts to infuse intensity into his side by acting as an extra ball boy in the game’s final stages, Villa only registered a single shot on target. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for infuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for infuse
Verb
  • And, come evening, the ocean’s surface is suffused with gold as the sun dips beyond the horizon.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The galleries were suffused with the tang of iron and old cum.
    Douglas Stuart, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Still, even as the memes become borderline unintelligible, Kirkslop contains an air of transgression that imbues the otherwise inane edits and images with perverse political undercurrents.
    Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The best power-pop thrives on the simmering tension between joyous jangle and sorrowful sentiment, and Presley imbues Orange’s songs with a palpable sense of shame and regret that makes even its most ebullient tracks feel heavy.
    Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Asian Development Bank estimates that the region will need to invest $210 billion annually in climate-resilient infrastructure through 2030.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Suppliers are also increasingly investing—both due to brand appetite and government regulations—in better data collection and traceability.
    Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Infuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infuse. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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