suffuses

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "suffuses" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that spreads throughout or permeates a space, feeling, or atmosphere. Example: "The warm light suffuses the room, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Totally over the top, actually, but I was young then, and full of hope, and I think it kind of captures some of the lyrical spirit that suffuses the soul when eating beside the sea.

The Guardian - Travel

Because the British are so down on their own country, explains a senior Tory, their best explanation for why foreigners head there is that Britain stupidly hands generous benefits to newcomers.Anti-immigrant anger is, in part, a British manifestation of the unhappiness about global competition that suffuses rich-world politics.

The Economist

The pages are filled with yearning.Another kind of flesh suffuses "Pow!": the village head is a notorious womaniser; Luo Xiaotong's father is eventually undone by his love for Aunty Wild Mule; half the village seems to be wearing "the green hat of a cuckold".

The Economist

That Mr Wei is a member of the local people's congress in Tianjin is a sign of how much politics still suffuses business in China, at every level.Besides, relative success in China carries its risks.

The Economist

What looked like a clear window back into the earliest moments of the universe might simply have been a faint glow from the diaphanous clouds of dust that exist between the stars.The BICEP-2 team, led by John Kovac of Harvard University, had been studying the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB a weak bath of radiation, left over from the Big Bang, that suffuses the universe.

The Economist

The imperative of gentlemanliness suffuses its age-old laws.

The Economist

It was also just the sort of horror story that excited Paul Bowles's imagination.A fascination with macabre cruelty suffuses his fiction a fascination initially inspired in him by the tales of Edgar Allan Poe he read as a boy.

The Economist

Indeed, as Mr Walcott says of language more generally, "every noun has its echo .This, and the elegiac tone that suffuses the book, brings to mind the "Four Quartets" of T.S. Eliot.

The Economist

A dose of hypocrisy suffuses much allied grumbling about the NSA because, in truth, everyone spies on everyone.

The Economist

It is of a piece with the francophilia that suffuses the book, and which the author (rather unsuccessfully) argues has nothing to do with home-side bias.

The Economist

Russell Shorto's "Amsterdam" traces the evolution of the Enlightenment in a city that was one of its birthplaces, and analyses how Amsterdam has been wrestling with its ideas ever since.Mr Shorto, an American who has lived in the Dutch capital for six years, sprinkles the book with personal anecdotes that illustrate how history suffuses the present.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suffuses" when you want to convey that something gradually and thoroughly spreads throughout, affecting everything it touches with a particular quality or feeling.

Common error

Avoid using "suffuses" in contexts where a simpler word like "fills" or "covers" would suffice. "Suffuses" is most effective when emphasizing the pervasive and subtle nature of the spreading effect.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suffuses" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. According to Ludwig AI, it describes the action of something spreading gradually and pervasively, filling or covering something completely. The provided examples showcase this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suffuses" is a verb used to describe something that spreads gradually and thoroughly, filling or covering something completely. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly used in news and media, as well as encyclopedic content, to convey a sense of pervasive influence or effect. While generally neutral in tone, it's best employed when a more nuanced description than simpler alternatives like "fills" or "covers" is desired. Consider using synonyms like "permeates", "imbues", or "pervades" to achieve specific shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

permeates

Indicates a spreading throughout something, often with a subtle or gradual effect.

imbues

Suggests filling something with a particular quality or feeling.

pervades

Implies a widespread presence, affecting everything in a noticeable way.

infuses

Highlights the introduction of a quality or element into something else.

saturates

Emphasizes a complete filling or soaking, often to the point of excess.

fills

A general term for occupying a space or thing completely.

overspreads

Suggests covering a surface or area entirely.

envelops

Indicates surrounding or covering something completely.

bathes

Implies covering something gently and thoroughly, often with light or liquid.

tinges

Suggests adding a slight amount of color, flavor, or quality.

FAQs

How can I use "suffuses" in a sentence?

You can use "suffuses" to describe how a feeling, color, or quality gradually spreads through something. For instance, "Warm light "permeates" the room" or "A sense of calm "pervades" the atmosphere".

What are some alternatives to "suffuses"?

Some alternatives include "permeates", "imbues", "pervades", "infuses", and "fills". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "suffuses with" or "suffuses in"?

The correct usage is simply "suffuses" followed by the object that is being filled or permeated. For example, "The light suffuses the room", not "suffuses with the room" or "suffuses in the room".

What is the difference between "suffuses" and "permeates"?

"Suffuses" suggests a more gentle and pervasive spreading, often implying a pleasant or desirable quality. "Permeates""permeates" is more neutral and can apply to both positive and negative qualities. Both indicate thorough spreading, but "suffuses" has a slightly more positive connotation.