1 impregnate | Definition of impregnate
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impregnate

verb
im·​preg·​nate | \ im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt How to pronounce impregnate (audio) , ˈim-ˌpreg-\
impregnated; impregnating

Definition of impregnate

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated impregnate wood with varnish
b : to permeate thoroughly
2 : to make pregnant : fertilize

impregnate

adjective
im·​preg·​nate | \ im-ˈpreg-nət How to pronounce impregnate (audio) \

Definition of impregnate (Entry 2 of 2)

: being filled or saturated
Other Words from impregnate Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about impregnate

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Other Words from impregnate

Verb

impregnation \ (ˌ)im-​ˌpreg-​ˈnā-​shən How to pronounce impregnation (audio) \ noun
impregnator \ im-​ˈpreg-​ˌnā-​tər How to pronounce impregnator (audio) , ˈim-​ˌpreg-​ \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for impregnate

Synonyms: Verb

drench, drown, macerate, saturate, soak, sodden, sop, souse, steep

Antonyms: Verb

wring (out)

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Choose the Right Synonym for impregnate

Verb

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: Verb

 Berry gave birth to a daughter, and Lee said she was impregnated five times, but miscarried each one after being beaten by Castro. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE.com, "How Jayme Closs, Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Dugard and Others Survived Headline-Making Abductions," 19 Aug. 2019 Murphy said, referring to Nayeri’s high school friend who prosecutors said impregnated a prisoner while married with two children and working as a correctional officer. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Prosecution makes closing argument in trial of man accused in Newport Beach kidnapping and torture case," 7 Aug. 2019 In silence sits a 37-year-old house painter who raped and impregnated his own daughter. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Speaking for baby Rose: How a Baltimore detective found his purpose investigating child abuse," 6 June 2019 He was then accused in 2016 of impregnating 11 women with his own sperm and 50 to 100 people with the wrong sperm, which led to this latest investigation. — Julie Mazziotta, PEOPLE.com, "Fertility Doctor, 80, Loses License for Inseminating at Least 11 Women with His Own Sperm," 27 June 2019 Meanwhile, the complex reasons (domestic abuse, rape) that a woman might not always want the man who impregnated her disclosed were neglected. — Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker, "The Paternity Reveal," 24 June 2019 More alarming was a camouflage vest with pouches containing bricks of homemade explosives impregnated with ball bearings. — Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, "‘I Think I’ve Been Shot’: Nighttime Raid in Afghanistan Reveals New U.S. Strategy," 5 Dec. 2018 What makes Kevlar fabric so effective is that it's impregnated with resin to produce a shell, which is lighter and tougher than steel. — David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "The Century-Long Evolution of the U.S. Army Helmet," 27 June 2019 And should we get rid of the Declaration of Independence because Jefferson, a slave owner, who impregnated one of his slaves, wrote it? — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, "Letter: Apparently, history must be changed," 27 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impregnate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of impregnate

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1646, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for impregnate

Verb

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

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More Definitions for impregnate

impregnate

verb
How to pronounce impregnate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of impregnate

: to cause (a material) to be filled or soaked with something
technical : to make (a woman or a female animal) pregnant

See the full definition for impregnate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

impregnate

transitive verb
im·​preg·​nate | \ im-ˈpreg-ˌnāt, ˈim-ˌ How to pronounce impregnate (audio) \
impregnated; impregnating

Medical Definition of impregnate

1a : to make pregnant
b : to introduce sperm into : fertilize
2 : to cause to be filled, imbued, permeated, or saturated gauze impregnated with white petrolatum

Other Words from impregnate

impregnation \ (ˌ)im-​ˌpreg-​ˈnā-​shən How to pronounce impregnation (audio) \

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