drain 1 of 2

verb

ˈdrān How to pronounce drain (audio)
Definition of drainnext
1
as in to pump
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of virtually drained the country's natural resources

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of the long hike drained us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drain

2 of 2

noun

1
as in sluice

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in flow

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word drain distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of drain are bankrupt, deplete, exhaust, and impoverish. While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

When might bankrupt be a better fit than drain?

The synonyms bankrupt and drain are sometimes interchangeable, but bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

When can deplete be used instead of drain?

Although the words deplete and drain have much in common, deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

When is exhaust a more appropriate choice than drain?

In some situations, the words exhaust and drain are roughly equivalent. However, exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

When would impoverish be a good substitute for drain?

The words impoverish and drain are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drain
Verb
Additional work to drain the swamp would drain the state’s treasury. —Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 Until then, the negative effects of import taxes such as rising unemployment and a slowing economy will drain trillions of dollars from the revenues the administration hopes to raise. —Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the kitchen, sewage backed up in the floor drain from a handwash sink and the three-comparment sink at the Palm Beach County restaurant. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025 That’s hundreds of billions of your tax dollars flushed down the drain without swamp bureaucrats blinking an eye. —Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
  1. pump
  2. spend
  3. kill
  4. sluice
  5. flow
  6. tap
  7. consume
  8. wear
Verb
  • Sunny expectations for Starlink are one of the main reasons investors have been eager to pump money into SpaceX.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The company remains committed to utilizing new technology to make pumping more comfortable and hassle-free.
    — Footwear News, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of pump
Verb
  • Ripp is originally a linebacker but spent parts of last year playing edge.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Consumers have been optimizing their spending for years, Thomas said, by making smart decisions to have the ability to still spend, particularly on discretionary items.
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of spend
Verb
  • Renee Moore worked near the building and relied on its daycare for her 6-month-old son Antonio Cooper Jr., who was among those killed.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Drones hit a bread factory in Sumy, killing one person, Zelensky said.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of kill
Noun
  • This option returns the pond to its full former glory including sluice gate repair, dredging the full pond area and recreational enhancements to include 5.7 acres of open water and two fishing platforms.
    — Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
  • In 2014, Kyrgyz and Tajik conscripts exchanged fire over a strategic sluice in Ak-Sai.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2016
Definition of sluice
Noun
  • Viral infections, blood flow blockages to the auditory nerve, and strokes are other potential causes of sudden deafness.15 What level of deafness is considered a disability?
    — Heidi Cope, Health, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Traffic flow along Pacific Coast Highway has been reduced to one lane in each direction and Temescal Canyon Road remains closed to create what the Army leaders call a TDRS — Temporary Debris Reduction Site.
    — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Definition of flow
Verb
  • Chuck Lorre has been tapped to give a keynote speech at the upcoming Banff World Media Festival.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Last February, the actress was tapped by Moroccanoil to front the brand’s first fragrance campaign.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of tap
Verb
  • Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Nor could the authors conclude definitively that the chimps were deliberately consuming ethanol-rich fruits and sharing it with their compatriots.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of consume
Verb
  • Throughout the case, Cruz appeared in court wearing protective restraint mittens handcuffed in place.
    — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The sweet interaction was posted to TikTok, where a surprised Ballerini could be seen promising to wear the boots to perform the show's final song.
    — Michelle Lee, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of wear

Phrases Containing drain

Browse Nearby Words

drags (out)
drain
drain (away)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on drain

Nglish: Translation of drain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about drain

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