| verb | pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance “The bullet penetrated her chest” |
| verb | come to understand |
| verb | become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions “It dawned on him that she had betrayed him” |
| verb | enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members “The student organization was infiltrated by a traitor” |
| verb | make one's way deeper into or through “The hikers did not manage to penetrate the dense forest” |
| verb | insert the penis into the vagina or anus of “Did the molester penetrate the child?” |
| verb | spread or diffuse through “An atmosphere of distrust has permeated this administration” |
| penetrator | noun | an intruder who passes into or through (often by overcoming resistance) |
| perforation | noun | a hole made in something |
| penetrative | adjective | having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions |
| penetration | noun | clear or deep perception of a situation |
| infiltration | noun | a process in which individuals (or small groups) penetrate an area (especially the military penetration of enemy positions without detection) |
| infiltrator | noun | someone who takes up a position surreptitiously for the purpose of espionage |
| permeative | adjective | spreading or spread throughout |
| permeant | adjective | spreading or spread throughout |
| permeation | noun | the process of permeating or infusing something with a substance |
| pervasive | adjective | spreading or spread throughout |
| pervasion | noun | the process of permeating or infusing something with a substance |
| interpenetration | noun | mutual penetration; diffusion of each through the other |
| diffusive | adjective | spreading by diffusion |
| diffusion | noun | the act of dispersing or diffusing something |
| diffusor | noun | baffle that distributes sound waves evenly |