impregnate

1 of 2

verb

im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
ˈim-ˌpreg-
impregnated; impregnating
Synonyms of impregnatenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated
impregnate wood with varnish
b
: to permeate thoroughly
2
: to make pregnant : fertilize
impregnation
(ˌ)im-ˌpreg-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
noun
impregnator
im-ˈpreg-ˌnā-tər How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
ˈim-ˌpreg-
noun

impregnate

2 of 2

adjective

im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-nət How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
: being filled or saturated

Synonyms

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for impregnate

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate 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

saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

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

impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of impregnate in a Sentence

Verb a cake impregnated with brandy impregnated the cloth with furniture polish
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
In one instance at Combs’ house in Los Angeles, the complaint alleges, she was drugged into unconsciousness and was impregnated. —Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 The disturbing true story of a North Carolina man who impregnated his biological daughter and then killed her, her adoptive father and his own infant son in a triple-murder-suicide is being adapted into a new Lifetime movie. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 27 Sep. 2024
Adjective
The genetic material was thus less effective for artificial insemination procedures to impregnate female dogs. —Kristin Lam, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2020 See all Example Sentences for impregnate 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Late Latin impraegnatus, past participle of impraegnare, from Latin in- + praegnas pregnant

First Known Use

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impregnate was in 1605

Dictionary Entries Near impregnate

impregnant

impregnate

impresa

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Impregnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impregnate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

impregnate

verb
im·​preg·​nate
im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt
impregnated; impregnating
1
a
: to make pregnant
b
: to introduce sperm cells into
2
: to cause (a material) to be filled or soaked with something
impregnate wood with varnish
impregnation
(ˌ)im-ˌpreg-ˈnā-shən
noun
impregnator
im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt-ər
noun

Medical Definition

impregnate

transitive verb
im·​preg·​nate im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt, ˈim-ˌ How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
impregnated; impregnating
1
a
: to make pregnant
b
: to introduce sperm into : fertilize
2
: to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated
gauze impregnated with white petrolatum
impregnation
(ˌ)im-ˌpreg-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce impregnate (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on impregnate

Nglish: Translation of impregnate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of impregnate for Arabic Speakers

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