WordLens

penetrate

1 of 1verb
/ˈpɛnɪtreɪt/
Forms:penetrates,penetrating,penetrated,penetrated
1

to move through something, typically overcoming resistance

transitive
  • The bullet was designed to penetrate armor for increased effectiveness.
  • With determination, he managed to penetrate the dense jungle.
  • The drill easily penetrated the hard surface, creating a hole.
Synonyms:
perforate
2

to comprehend or grasp the meaning or significance of something

transitive
  • It took me some time to penetrate the complexity of the novel's themes.
  • She struggled to penetrate the dense scientific jargon in the research paper.
  • With diligent study, she was able to penetrate the mysteries of ancient civilizations.
  • It can be challenging to penetrate the cultural nuances of a foreign language.
  • Through thoughtful reflection, he was able to penetrate the deeper meaning behind the poet's words.
Synonyms:
bottomfathom
3

to become clear or fully understood

  • Despite its complexity, the concept eventually penetrated and became clear to everyone in the room.
  • After multiple explanations, the idea finally penetrated, and he saw its significance.
  • It was a difficult concept to grasp at first, but with perseverance, it eventually penetrated.
  • The gravity of the situation didn't penetrate until they saw the devastating effects firsthand.
  • The significance of the historical event slowly penetrated as they studied it in more depth.
Synonyms:
dawnsink inget throughcome homeclickget acrossfall into place
4

to insert a sexual organ into that of the sexual partner

transitive
  • He slowly penetrated her, eliciting a moan of pleasure.
  • He penetrated his partner slowly, savoring the intimacy of their connection.
5

to spread or permeate deeply into something

transitive
  • The aroma of freshly baked bread penetrated the entire house.
  • Sunlight penetrated the thick canopy, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.
  • Despite the closed windows, the sound of traffic penetrated the quiet of the room.
  • The scent of roses penetrated the garden, attracting bees and butterflies.
  • The scent of pine trees penetrated the air, signaling their arrival in the forest.
Synonyms:
riddleimbuepermeatepervadediffuseinterpenetrate
6

to gain unauthorized entry into an organization or system

transitive
  • Despite heightened security measures, spies managed to penetrate the enemy's defense system.
  • The undercover agent worked tirelessly to penetrate the criminal organization and gather evidence.
  • With forged identification, they were able to penetrate the restricted area of the military base.
  • The infiltrator posed as a legitimate employee to penetrate the company's ranks and gather intelligence.
Synonyms:
infiltrate