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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
However, with business operations causing a cash drain, the source of cash has been the sale of more stock, particularly through the relatively new SEPA (Standby Equity Purchase Agreement) plan. John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025 Additionally, several women were threading eyebrows along a sidewalk on a commercial street just off Roosevelt Avenue, while men were selling sneakers from cars and other food vendors were seen dumping wastewater down drains. Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Noun
Inrix finds traffic congestion costs the average Los Angeles driver 89 hours a year and drains $8 billion annually from the economy. Baruch Feigenbaum, Oc Register, 24 June 2025 Why Culture Matters Toxic culture can drain performance, producing distrust, low creativity and high turnover. Chris Williams, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
  • The latest addition the InMotion's range will certainly get the adrenaline pumping with a top speed of 43.5 mph (70 km/h).
    Paul Ridden June 24, New Atlas, 24 June 2025
  • Foreigners have responded by pumping money into America and now own 18% of the U.S. stock market, according to Apollo chief economist Torsten Sløk.
    Greg McKenna, Fortune, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Irby, 35, is a manager for corporate security and intelligence at FIS Global and spent more than 15 years in corporate security.
    Michael R. Wickline, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025
  • Amos has led Aflac for 35 years and has spent more than five decades at the company his family founded.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Gaza’s Health Ministry on Sunday said that another 88 people have been killed by Israeli fire over the past 24 hours, raising the war’s toll among Palestinians to 56,500.
    Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
  • One Cambodian soldier was killed in a relatively small, contested area.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 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
  • Just look at the recent news flow around 16 billion breached passwords.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • This combination of diagnostic capability with a conversational nature and flow is a key differentiator for Beauty Genius, which was unveiled by L’Oréal chief executive officer Nicolas Hieronimus at the 2024 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • For its fourth studio album, Flowers (out June 27 on Dead Oceans), the trio of Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein is tapping its own history for a sound that melds the members’ individual influences.
    Taylor Mims, Billboard, 23 June 2025
  • These seven companies both reflect U.S. strength in Big Tech and tap into major trends like AI.
    Cecilia Hult, Fortune, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • The company has consistently consumed cash while struggling to scale production within the competitive semiconductor landscape.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Close to 18% of people who regularly eat fruits reported better sleep, along with 12% of people who consume a lot of vegetables, and 13% of people who drink herbal tea.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • He was last seen wearing blue headphones, a blue surgical mask, a black North Face jacket, light-wash camo pants and gray sneakers.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025
  • She’s known for crafting the clothes worn by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief, and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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