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Definitions

penetrate

[pen-i-treyt] / ˈpɛn ɪˌtreɪt /
VERB
pierce; get through physically
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crack drill enter go through infiltrate invade pass through permeate pervade puncture seep
STRONG
access bayonet bore charge come diffuse drive encroach force gore impale insert insinuate introduce jab knife percolate perforate prick probe ream saturate spear stab suffuse thrust trespass
WEAK
barge in blow in break in breeze in bust in eat through filter in get in ingress make a hole make an entrance pop in run into sink into stick into
Antonyms
STRONGEST
surrender yield
STRONG
retreat
WEAK
exit misconstrue misinterpret misunderstand take out withdraw
VERB
understand or be understood
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affect fathom get through touch
STRONG
comprehend decipher discern grasp impress perceive unravel
WEAK
become clear come across figure out get across get over get to the bottom put over see through sink in soak in work out
Antonyms
STRONG
misinterpret misunderstand neglect overlook
WEAK
exit misconstrue take out withdraw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The $700 area proved too tough to penetrate after three consecutive doji candles from Jan. 21 to Jan. 23.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Investors seem increasingly spooked by Mythos, a forthcoming Anthropic model that the company has said is so powerful it could penetrate existing cyber defenses if it’s misused by bad actors.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Their relatively large size can limit how well they penetrate tumors, and they can only carry a limited amount of drug.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

Burning them releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particles that penetrate the lungs and bloodstream.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

On Mars such a place would be even more interesting, because while the visible light necessary for photosynthesis would penetrate to that depth, the germicidal ultraviolet light would be at least partially attenuated.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Vocabulary lists containing penetrate

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