Synonyms for penetrate
ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪtpen·e·trate

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penetrate

   Synonyms:
   pierce, enter, enter into, reach, permeate, make one's way, disclose, fathom

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penetrate, perforateverb

   pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

   "The bullet penetrated her chest"

   Synonyms:
   punch, click, imbue, riddle, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, fathom, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

2. penetrate, fathom, bottomverb

   come to understand

   Synonyms:
   click, imbue, riddle, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, fathom, sound, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

3. click, get through, dawn, come home, get across, sink in, penetrate, fall into placeverb

   become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions

   "It dawned on him that she had betrayed him"; "she was penetrated with sorrow"

   Synonyms:
   pass over, put over, get over, flick, wrap up, come through, percolate, contact, pervade, cut across, infiltrate, bottom, snap, finish up, tick, reach, interpenetrate, permeate, get hold of, finish off, polish off, cut through, mop up, fall into place, cluck, filter, come home, while away, perforate, traverse, dawn, click, diffuse, sink in, clear up, cover, cross, riddle, get across, fathom, chatter, imbue, get through, track, clack

4. infiltrate, penetrateverb

   enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members

   "The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor"

   Synonyms:
   click, imbue, pass through, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, riddle, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, fathom, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

5. penetrateverb

   make one's way deeper into or through

   "The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest"

   Synonyms:
   click, imbue, riddle, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, fathom, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

6. penetrateverb

   insert the penis into the vagina or anus of

   "Did the molester penetrate the child?"

   Synonyms:
   click, imbue, riddle, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, fathom, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

7. permeate, pervade, penetrate, interpenetrate, diffuse, imbue, riddleverb

   spread or diffuse through

   "An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration"; "music penetrated the entire building"; "His campaign was riddled with accusations and personal attacks"

   Synonyms:
   fall into place, circulate, spread, infiltrate, interpenetrate, sink in, soak, bottom, disperse, circularize, propagate, pass around, riddle, spread out, filter, come home, disseminate, perforate, dawn, hue, click, diffuse, broadcast, screen, distribute, percolate, fan out, circularise, get across, fathom, imbue, get through, permeate, pervade

Matched Categories

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Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. pierce, puncture, make a hole in

   a stick into

   the addict will sometimes penetrate his arm with a syringe to inject drugs directly into his blood stream.

   Submitted by rinat on June 1, 2017  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penetrateverb

   Synonyms:
   pierce, perforate, bore, enter, transfix

2. penetrateverb

   Synonyms:
   discern, understand, comprehend

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. penetrateverb

   Synonyms:
   pierce, perforate, comprehend, understand, explore, interpenetrate

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "penetrate":

   enter, infiltrate, penetration, breakthrough, permeate, penetrates

How to pronounce penetrate?

How to say penetrate in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use penetrate in a sentence?

1. Prawit Wongsuwan:

   The United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) has sent 30 staff with equipment to help penetrate the cave walls.

2. February NASA:

   These clouds are so thick that even Hubble’s infrared capability could not penetrate them.

3. Elizabeth Mullans:

   It is easy to believe that once we are indoors that we are protected from the sun, not all glass is created equally. It is important to apply daily SPF 30 or higher because harmful UVA rays can penetrate windows.

4. February NASA:

   The red stars are either embedded or shrouded by intervening dust, these clouds are so thick that even Hubble’s infrared capability could not penetrate them.

5. Mark Twain:

   It is discouraging to try and penetrate a mind like yours. You ought to get it out and dance on it. That would take some of the rigidity out of it.