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drain

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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 latest loss was emotionally draining for the Clippers after their rally from a 22-point deficit fell just short. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025 Treatment may include draining the abscess, and some people may also need a tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils).9 How to Ease Throat Pain Throat pain treatment is often focused on relieving the underlying cause. Anju Goel, Verywell Health, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
That a tree left standing in the forest was money down the drain. India Nye Wenner, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025 Fruit flies will also target places where food is disposed of, like your trash bins or drains. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
  • During the 1960s and 1970s, groundwater was pumped from the industrial area of Marghera, on the mainland facing into the lagoon.
    Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Three members of the Rockefeller family, which has deep roots in New York politics and ranks as one of the wealthiest dynasties in American history, recently pumped $75,000 into a pro-Cuomo super PAC that’s boosting the former governor’s campaign for City Hall, filings released this week show.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump, Biden allies divided over GDP report One crisis away from homelessness While discretionary spending is somewhat determined by priorities, income is the key factor when calculating what and where to spend.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • At Alpha School, students spend just two hours a day in class, guided by an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutor.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to federal charges in CEO killing Judge Margaret Garnett asked for an explanation, which federal prosecutors provided in a court filing.
    Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Outdoors Summer Camp in Chatham Two 7-year-olds, an 8-year-old and an 18-year-old died in the crash, the Sangamon County Coroner's Office said The four victims killed after a vehicle crashed into their after-school camp in Illinois have been identified by authorities.
    Becca Longmire, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025
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
Noun
  • The store is designed with an easy flow of boutiques, each housing different day and evening clothes and accessories, from Zara’s more sophisticated ready-to-wear and tailored looks, to the brand’s trendy and casual styles.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 1 May 2025
  • India's decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, an agreement that manages the flow of the Indus River basin that runs between the two nations, has especially fueled concerns in Pakistan of an attempt to halt water entering the country.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The fight ended in the second round when a knee injury on the mat forced Figueiredo to tap while Sandhagen was firing off strikes to the head.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • But anyone could tap into a similar energy by asking friends, coworkers, and family members to set them up.
    Alex Abad-Santos, Vox, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • The consistent overproduction of milk is the reason federal dietary guidelines recommend that adults consume three cups of dairy per day, as well as why half-pint milk cartons are a mainstay of the nation’s school cafeterias.
    HubSpot, HubSpot, 2 May 2025
  • Additionally, the study of chemical isotopes — variants of carbon and nitrogen that reflect plant or animal proteins consumed — from a bone sample taken from the mummy’s spine revealed a high-quality diet based on grain and a large proportion of meat.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Famously, stage and film star Sir Sean Connery openly discussed wearing a headpiece in all of his James Bond roles.
    Rhiannon Frater, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Inter won a free kick in the first minute of the second half — and Chivu, who wore a sporadically unclasped rugby scrum cap during the game, blasted it wide from 40 yards out, emphasising their total disinterest in mounting any meaningful attack.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 13 May. 2025.

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