as in enters
to go or come in or into
a needle penetrated the heavy canvas only with great effort
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Recent Examples of penetrates
The oily petroleum base penetrates the finish on the wood, displacing the moisture trapped inside, and the oils also nourish and condition dry wood.
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Jan. 2026
The oil penetrates the wood to keep it from drying out, while the beeswax adds a gentle protective layer that repels water.
—Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
Only a scattering of light penetrates the deep water, more than 300 feet beneath the ocean surface off the coast of Guam.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Used as a warm oil treatment, the blend penetrates more deeply before forming a seal, providing high-porosity hair with both hydration and retention in one step.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 25 Nov. 2025
As the Arctic Ocean loses its sea ice due to climate change, sunlight penetrates deeper into the water and encourages the growth of tiny plant-like organisms (phytoplankton).
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 7 Nov. 2025
What starts as a plush gel, lathers into a rich foam that penetrates deep to remove all traces of residue.
—Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2025
The oil penetrates your skin quickly and can help soothe dry, irritated skin.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Oct. 2025
This rich formula penetrates deep into the dermis creating renewal and hydrating like a dream.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penetrates
Verb
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Newsom enters his last year in office facing an $18 billion deficit, which the Legislative Analyst’s Office projected could swell to $35 billion next year.—
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Johnson also enters the job with head coaching experience.—
Verb
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Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn.—
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Nicole Kidman's stare pierces the room.—
Verb
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Alpha accesses shelf depths of up to 60 centimeters.—
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California law already criminalizes unsafe gun storage in certain situations, including when a child accesses a firearm and injures or kills someone.—
Cite this Entry
“Penetrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penetrates. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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