diffuse

14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for diffuse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

broadcast thin loose soft

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

dispersed scattered sparse

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

forspread prolix incompact noncompact spaced out uncompact diffused

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way.

“The scent of coffee diffused through the whole house.”

broadcast forspread thin prolix dispersed incompact loose noncompact scattered spaced out sparse uncompact

Opposites

compact dense

2. adjective

Spread out over a wide area rather than concentrated in one place.

“The light from the overcast sky was soft and diffuse.”

soft diffused

Etymology

From Latin diffundere, "to pour out in different directions," from dis- plus fundere, "to pour."

Full origin of diffuse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “diffuse” mean?

The word “diffuse” means to spread something out through a substance or space, or to spread out that way. In plain terms, spread thin over a wide area, or (for writing) padded out and unfocused.

How do you pronounce “diffuse”?

“Diffuse” is pronounced dih-FYOOZ (/dɪˈfjuz/ in IPA).

How do you use “diffuse” in a sentence?

Here is “diffuse” used in a sentence: “The scent of coffee diffused through the whole house.”

What is another word for “diffuse”?

Words with a similar meaning to “diffuse” include forspread, thin, prolix, dispersed, incompact and loose.

What is the opposite of “diffuse”?

The opposite of “diffuse” — its antonyms — are compact and dense.

What part of speech is “diffuse”?

Depending on how it is used, “diffuse” can be a verb and an adjective.

Where does the word “diffuse” come from?

The word “diffuse” comes from Latin. From Latin diffundere, "to pour out in different directions," from dis- plus fundere, "to pour.".

Is “diffuse” a common word?

“Diffuse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

People also searched

soft broadcast loose thin compact scattered dense dispersed sparse uncompact incompact prolix

Nearby words

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