permeate
8 synonyms for permeate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To pass gradually into or through something, especially a loosely-textured substance, without damaging it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
First attested in 1656; borrowed from Latin permeātus, perfect passive participle of permeō (“to pass through”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Full origin of permeate →