Vocabulary in context
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Imbue
To fill or saturate something with a particular quality, feeling, or idea; to inspire or influence deeply.
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Imagine This
The president of the dye company who went into the vat to test the color of the dye and shouted, 'I'm blue!'
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Sounds Like
im-BYOU
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Looks Like
Visually resembles the base word 'imbue'; looks like the same spelling.
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Remember This
Imbue conveys a strong transfer of color or metaphorical quality. It often precedes the object with 'with' (imbue someone/something with a quality).
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Other Forms
imbuesverb
imbuingverb
imbuedadjective
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Connect With
infuse, permeate, pervade, saturate, inspire, instill
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Note
Imbue is transitive and takes a direct object with 'with' (imbue someone with courage). Do not confuse with 'imbibe' (to drink) or 'inbue' (obsolete).
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Study Deeper
Examples
- Her speech imbued the audience with a sense of purpose.
- The coach sought to imbue the team with discipline and focus.
Synonyms
infusepermeatepervadesaturateinstill
Antonyms
deprive ofdrainremove
Etymology
From Latin imbuere 'to moisten, saturate,' from in- 'in' + buere 'to wet'; via Old French imbuer.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: I'm blue — remember imbue as saturating something with color or feeling, just as blue dye saturates fabric.
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Divergent
adjectiveDivergent means tending to differ; moving apart or developing in different directions. It can describe opinions, paths, or outcomes that are not in agreement or not converging.
Oversight
noun1) Supervision or management of a project, operation, or organization. 2) An unintentional failure to notice or do something; an omission or blind spot.
Cloister
nounA convent or monastery; a secluded, enclosed area within a religious complex.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Pervade
verbTo spread through or into every part of something; to be present throughout.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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