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noun

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
The county, with a roughly $48-billion budget, also is relying on special bonds as well as on draining its rainy day fund. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2025 Extra soft white bread with the crusts removed gets layered with razor-thin English cucumbers (peeled, please, then lightly salted and drained), butter, a light dusting of fine pepper and perhaps a spray of fresh herbs such as dill. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2025
Noun
Vent pipes need to be sloped at all times, like drain pipes. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025 Next to a desk and minimal office supplies sat pipe cutting machines, sewer machines and a drain cleaning machine. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
  • Meta is pumping $14.3 billion into Scale AI as part of the deal, and will have a 49% stake in the artificial intelligence startup, but will not have any voting power, a Scale AI spokesperson said.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 13 June 2025
  • This disrupts the heart's pumping action and stops blood flow through the body.
    Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • When Fix the City is factored in, tens of millions of dollars have been spent on television ads and campaign mailers advertising Cuomo’s bid to become the next mayor.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • Normally, therefore, investors would spend the rest of the day closely parsing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks for changes of tone and clues as to when the Fed might next change interest rates.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • Some residents cited New Orleans’ resilience during tough times – think Hurricane Katrina or after 14 were killed this year after a man drove a speeding truck into New Year’s Day revelers on Bourbon Street – and took it in stride.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 June 2025
  • An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London has been canceled days after the fatal crash that killed 241 people on board.
    Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • The focus is on the Bangs Lake outfall control structure, which is currently maintained by manually making adjustments to the sluice gate.
    Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
  • Still, on May 4, India lowered sluice gates at the Baglihar dam, effectively reducing the downstream flow to Pakistan through the Chenab River by up to 90%, according to the Hindustan Times.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Trying to shove your lower leg into something like skinny jeans or a condom could end up cutting off blood flow, which clearly would not be good for your calf.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • But Haiti’s remittance flows, which surpassed $4 billion last year according to its central bank, are not the only ones that risk taking a hit should the tax provision pass.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • This program is a critical intervention to tap into that talent pool and align NYC’s economic growth with inclusive opportunity.
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In a trailer for the album, Katt Williams was tapped as manager, taking us on a journey through Baby’s luxurious home — the same one featured in Architectural Digest.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 10 June 2025
Verb
  • Older people have been hearing about heart health from their doctors for years, and data show that smoking weed and consuming edibles can have catastrophic cardiovascular effects.
    Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • LinkedIn has become essential for business development, but traditional LinkedIn networking approaches consume hours without guaranteed returns.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • Anyone who doesn’t wear a uniform speaks in a whisper.
    Rav Grewal-Kök June 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
  • Everybody at Berkeley was wearing those kind of hippie-dippie sandals, but these are a little chicer.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

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