penetrate

12 synonyms and 2 antonyms for penetrate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To make a way into or through something; to pierce or pass into the interior of something.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

click bottom dawn

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pierce breach diffuse

Rare, literary or technical

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

permeate infiltrate perforate imbue interpenetrate fathom

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To make a way into or through something; to pierce or pass into the interior of something.

“The knife penetrated only a few millimeters into the wood.”

pierce permeate infiltrate breach perforate imbue interpenetrate diffuse fathom click bottom dawn

Opposites

skirt

2. verb

To come to understand something fully despite difficulty; to see through to the truth of it.

“It took years for historians to penetrate the mystery surrounding his death.”

Opposites

skim

How to use penetrate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

penetrate the market penetrate enemy lines

Etymology

From Latin penetrare ("to enter deeply into, pierce"), from penes ("within").

Full origin of penetrate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “penetrate” mean?

The word “penetrate” means to make a way into or through something; to pierce or pass into the interior of something. In plain terms, to physically pass into or through something, or to fully understand something difficult.

How do you pronounce “penetrate”?

“Penetrate” is pronounced PEH-niht-rayt (/ˈpɛnɪtɹeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “penetrate” in a sentence?

Here is “penetrate” used in a sentence: “The knife penetrated only a few millimeters into the wood.”

What part of speech is “penetrate”?

“Penetrate” is a verb.

Where does the word “penetrate” come from?

The word “penetrate” comes from Latin. From Latin penetrare ("to enter deeply into, pierce"), from penes ("within").

Is “penetrate” a common word?

“Penetrate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “penetrate” have?

“Penetrate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make a way into or through something; to pierce or pass into the interior of something.

What is the difference between penetrate and pierce?

Pierce specifically suggests puncturing or making a hole through something with a sharp point, while penetrate more broadly means making a way into or through something, which can include piercing but also softer forms of entry, like a smell penetrating a room.

How is "penetrate" used to mean "understand"?

Beyond its physical sense, penetrate can mean to come to understand something fully despite difficulty, as in "penetrate the mystery" or "penetrate someone's true motives." This figurative use implies seeing through complexity to reach the truth.

What prepositions commonly follow penetrate?

Penetrate is often followed by "into" or "through," as in "penetrate into enemy territory" or "light penetrated through the curtains," though it can also take a direct object with no preposition at all.

People also searched

click bottom dawn breach pierce skirt diffuse infiltrate fathom imbue interpenetrate permeate

Nearby words

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