Infuse and suffuse are two words that look and sound similar, but have slightly different meanings. We will look at the difference between the words infuse and suffuse, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Infuse means to fill something, to inject with something, to instill something. In a medical sense, to infuse means to allow a liquid to flow into a vein. Infuse may also mean to soak something in a liquid in order to extract flavor or medicinal properties. Infuse is a verb, related words are infuses, infused, infusing, infusion. Infuse is derived from the Latin word infusus, which means pour in, mix, mingle.
Suffuse means to spread through in a gradual fashion, to spread over in a gradual fashion. Suffuse carries the connotation of a passive action. Suffuse is a verb, relation words are suffuses, suffused, suffusing, suffusion. The word suffuse is derived from the Latin word suffusus which means to overspread, to pour on. Remember, infuse means to fill, instill or inject something, suffuse means to spread gently and gradually.
Examples
The Board approved the proposal and agreed to infuse the funds of Rs 30 crore in Garden Silk Mills to support the debt rework scheme being appraised by the consortium member banks in Garden Silk Mills and to enhance its long term resources. (The Business Standard)
But don’t delay, once you prepare the cranberry mixture, it does have to sit for one week to infuse the vodka, so be sure to plan ahead for this. (The Tallahassee Democrat)
Mandarino, meanwhile, is finishing up his book, The Nowist, about the power of embracing the present moment, and its spiritual themes suffuse his lyrics. (The Santa Barbara Independent)