drain 1 of 2

Definition of drainnext

drain

2 of 2

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
Every couple of years, the water turns murky, regardless, and the whole tank has to be drained and refilled, explains Polojärvi. Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026 Gluten-free pasta can also become rubbery if undercooked, or overly gummy and firm if left to sit too long after draining. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Noun
This approach eliminates the constant power drain typical of standard computing, clearing the path for a new generation of ultra-low-power, agile, and autonomous machines. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026 Officials say every time after leaving the water, boaters should clean, drain and dry to prevent the spread of zebra mussels. Ubah Ali, CBS News, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
  • Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie told CNN that rescue divers were teaching the villagers how to dive out of the cave themselves, as the space is narrow and water levels are not coming down despite efforts to pump the water out.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • Four others were able to climb out by themselves on Saturday, Laos rescue group Rescue Volunteer for People said on Facebook, as water levels came down following efforts to pump water out of the cave system.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Robert had spent the last few years accruing credit card points—more on that below—in the hopes of planning a blowout honeymoon experience for the wanderlusting couple, who had previously traveled together to romantic destinations like Japan and the south of France.
    Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • In recent months security forces have killed a string of top Maoists and the rank-and-file are laying down their weapons.
    Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • At the same time that the GKN situation was unraveling, the rupture of a chemical tank containing a different chemical mixture killed 11 people at a paper mill in Washington state.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • The archways are furnished with sluice gates that can open to allow excess water to pass through in periods of flooding.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
  • Some residents said the country club contribues to flooding by opening its sluice gate when rain is forecast.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Those vibes were in full flow on Friday, with the difference between the two sides striking on the eve of the final.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • The science payload to be landed there includes seismometers, a drill to allow emplacement of heat flow and electrical conductivity probes, and instruments to study the magnetic field and surface weathering.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Losing the morning game to Arvada West junior ace Cooper Vais, whose snap dragon slider produced 10 strikeouts in a 3-2 muzzling, could have siphoned confidence.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Still, data and intellectual property are siphoned off to rich countries, echoing centuries-old dynamics of colonial extraction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • According to the lawsuit, the child consumed the kofta at The Kebab Shop on Los Feliz Boulevard on or about April 1.
    Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Goldman Sachs forecasts a 24-fold increase in token consumption by 2030, reaching 120 quadrillion tokens per month, as agentic AI systems replace single-prompt interactions with multi-step tasks that consume orders of magnitude more compute per query.
    Rakesh Kumar, Fortune, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Mark, on a skateboard, and Jacob, also wearing inline skates, followed a little more than an arm’s length behind.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
  • There’s a similar amount of personality within Hadspen House, where a Roman bust wears a necklace of seashells and a snug room is decorated in the colors of the croquet set outside on the lawn.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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