This envelope had the air of an official record of some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal chirography on more substantial materials than at present.
Source: wiktionary
Engross
/ɪnˈɡɹəʊs/
Synonyms for "engross" (191 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (39)
Strong matches (57)
Related words (95)
Verb(19 words)
Noun(6 words)
inditeinfiltrateinscribeinterestinvolveinvolve the interestmake a buymake a dealmake a recensionmake outmesmerizemonopolizemonopolize the thoughtsobsessobsess the mindoccupyoccupy the attentionoccupy the mindosmosepen
Show 47 more words
pencilpercolatepercolate inpinguefyplumppreoccupyprepossessprocurepurchasepush the penput in writingput on weightrebuyrecenserecordregraterepurchasereviserewritescribescrivescrollseep inseize the mindsew upslurp upsoaksoak insoak upsorbspellbindspill inkspoil paperspongesuperscribeswill uptake intake it alltake uptie uptracetranscribetransfixtypewritewrite downwrite out
Adjective(3 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absorb, engage, absorb, absorb the attention, absorbed.
- Sentence evidence is available for engross, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "engross".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "engross"
Keep "engross" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "engross" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "engross", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "engross" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
3 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
laws that may be engrossed upon a finger nail
Source: wiktionary
Wherefore Mr. Micawber […] set to work at the petition, invented it, engrossed it on an immense sheet of paper, spread it out on a table, and appointed a time for all the club, and all within the walls if they chose, to come up to his room and sign it.
Source: wiktionary
After which time the Popes of Rome, engroſſing what they pleas'd of Politicall rule into their owne hands, extended their dominion over mens eyes, as they had before over their judgements, burning and prohibiting to be read, what they fanſied not; […]
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "engross"?
Closest matches include absorb, engage, absorb, absorb the attention, absorbed.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "engross"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.