penetrate
Enter by force
To penetrate is to pass into or through something—a bullet penetrates flesh, light penetrates darkness, water penetrates soil.
The word implies overcoming resistance or crossing a barrier.
Extended uses follow naturally: to penetrate a market is to establish presence there; to penetrate a mystery is to understand it deeply; to penetrate an organization is to infiltrate it.
A penetrating gaze seems to see through you; a penetrating analysis cuts to the core.
The cold penetrated his thin jacket.
She couldn't penetrate his reserved exterior.
Pierce with point
- impalePierce and hold fast
- punctureHole from penetration
- skewerPointed cooking rod
- lanceLong thrusting weapon
bore · drill · thrust · transfix · prick · spike · gore · incise
Enter secretly to observe
- breachBreaking of agreement
- invadeEnter by force
- trespassUnauthorized entry onto property
- encroachAdvance beyond proper limits
break-in · burglarize · raid · infringe · violate · overstep · interlope · snoop
Grasp the meaning
- graspSeize or understand
- fathomNautical depth unit
- discernPerceive with careful attention
- perceiveBecome conscious of
apprehend · unravel · decode · decipher · figure out · see through · insight · realization
Flow slowly through
- diffuseSpread thinly throughout
- saturateSoak to full capacity
- infuseSaturate by steeping
- percolateFilter through gradually
soak · imbue · osmosis · filter · steep · leach · absorb · drench
Thorough examination or tool
- surveySystematic data collection
- exploreTravel to discover
- reconnoiterMilitary preliminary survey
- scoutOne who reconnoiters
delve · plumb · investigate · examine · spelunking · diving · depths · uncharted
stab
Pierce with point
lance · bore · drill · thrust · transfix · prick · spike · gore · incise · spear
infiltrate
Enter secretly to observe
encroach · break-in · burglarize · raid · infringe · violate · overstep · interlope · snoop · prowl
understand
Grasp the meaning
perceive · apprehend · unravel · decode · decipher · figure out · see through · insight · realization · clarity
seep
Flow slowly through
percolate · soak · imbue · osmosis · filter · steep · leach · absorb · drench · spread
probe
Thorough examination or tool
- surveySystematic data collection
- exploreTravel to discover
- reconnoiterMilitary preliminary survey
scout · delve · plumb · investigate · examine · spelunking · diving · depths · uncharted · wilderness
breach
Breaking of agreement
doorway · threshold · gateway · portal · entry · opening · admission · keyhole · aperture · orifice
biting
Harshly critical or cold
piercing · sharp · icy · chilling · bone-deep · numbing · brisk · harsh · stinging · frigid
- inward movementinhale, absorb, intake, retract, withdraw
- piercingpiercing, puncture, puncturing, stab, perforation
- absorbsoak, soak up, sponge, imbibe, blot
- cutting throughslice, chop, carve, sever, cleave
- passing throughgo through, pass through, cross, traverse, transit
- verbs of absorptionsoak, saturate, steep, infuse, marinate
penetratemisunderstand
Grasp incorrectly
misinterpret · misconstrue · mistake · overlook · miss
- penetrating stareIntensely focused, probing look
- penetrating oilFluid that loosens corrosion
- deep penetrationEntry far into something
- penetration testingAuthorized security vulnerability assessment
- penetration pricingLow initial prices strategy
- penetration testAuthorized security vulnerability assessment
penetrating, impenetrable, penetration, penetrated, penetrable, penetrates, penetrative, impenetrably, impenetrability