variants
also syphon
1
as in to pump
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
I let the stranded motorist siphon some of my gas so he could be on his way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to funnel
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
investigators discovered that the so-called charitable organization was siphoning funds for personal use
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 siphon
Once the launchpad for Oscar juggernauts from Slumdog Millionaire to La La Land, TIFF has in recent years watched rivals Venice and Telluride siphon away its prestige premieres, while buyers grumbled about thinner slates and softer deal flow.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Once the lithium is being developed, the money will need to go to the State coffers and cannot be siphoned off by the typical corruption that has long bedeviled the country.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Residents on the east side of Troost Avenue would find themselves in the drastically altered 5th District, and residents to the west of the historic dividing line would be siphoned off into the new 4th District, which would stretch to southern Missouri.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Without an influx of new students from outside of North Lawndale, growing the three schools could mean siphoning students from other schools with their own enrollment woes.
—Mila Koumpilova, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for siphon
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
Once the lithium is being developed, the money will need to go to the State coffers and cannot be siphoned off by the typical corruption that has long bedeviled the country.
—Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Residents on the east side of Troost Avenue would find themselves in the drastically altered 5th District, and residents to the west of the historic dividing line would be siphoned off into the new 4th District, which would stretch to southern Missouri.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Without an influx of new students from outside of North Lawndale, growing the three schools could mean siphoning students from other schools with their own enrollment woes.
—Mila Koumpilova, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for siphon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siphon
Verb
-
Americans love to travel, but rising costs are causing many people to pump the brakes and reconsider booking a trip.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Hurts pumped before the throw, but Brown said that didn’t slow his route.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The investments over several years could be funneled into plants — including re-openings, hiring and new models — in states such as Illinois and Michigan, the people said.—
Gabrielle Coppola,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
From the top of a lift, the three of us descended 4,800 feet into a ravine that, over the course of two hours, funneled us to Refugio Frey.—
Scott Yorko,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
González, not known as a shooter when the Celtics drafted him, drained one of two 3-point attempts.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Most indoor plants are watered from the top until the water drains from the pot through the drainage holes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The code directed the money to a digital wallet not owned by the man, but presumably owned by the scammer, the complaint states.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Oct. 2025
-
In the leadup to the deadline to fund the government this week, the White House directed agencies to prepare for mass firings in the event that Congress couldn’t reach a deal, rather than furloughing those not deemed essential as in past shutdowns.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Let’s Bring Back Fondue Night When fondue pots were at the height of their popularity in the 1970s, everyone would gather around the table in their house clogs and bell bottoms with skewers ready to dip into melty cheese, smooth chocolate, and even piping-hot oil (for cooking small hunks of meat).—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
This set features a button-down shirt with a scalloped collar and chest patch pocket, wide-leg pants with a pull-on waistband, and contrast piped trim.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The disease is transmitted by small flies called midge, and is not known to cause disease in humans.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Whether gilded onto walls in European estates or woven through tapestries now hanging in museums, this symbol of luxury transmitted a message of nuanced taste and cultural awareness.—
Rachel Gallaher,
Robb Report,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Siphon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siphon. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share