DRAIN Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

drain 1 of 2

verb

ˈdrān

Definition of drain

as in to pump

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to spend

to make complete use of virtually drained the country's natural resources

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to kill

to use up all the physical energy of the long hike drained us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drain

2 of 2

noun

as in sluice

Related Words

as in flow

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Dissimilar Words

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

Since then, talent has drained away, the military controls much of the economy, and the Castro family remains a dynasty. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 One floor sink at the cook’s line was clogged and not draining due to oil and grease buildup. — Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Noun

Schools with fewer students are a drain on district finances. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026 Season these ingredients 30 to 60 minutes before cooking, then drain or blot off excess water and proceed as directed on page 196. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain

Verb

Interim peace accords in the 1990s recognized their water rights but preserved a system that allocated some 80% of water pumped from the main aquifer for Israeli use.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
The responsible gaming prompts telling me to pump the brakes were no match for the product design and promotions pushing me to do more gambling.

— Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of pump

Verb

Hochul's announcement came shortly after dozens of students and community members spent hours demanding transparency and accountability from university leaders at a forum sponsored by Cornell's student government.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Earlier this year, César Alvarez spent far too much of their play The Potluck having their onstage avatar wiggle around on the hook of writing The Potluck.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

In Gaza City, a strike hit a car, killing one person and wounding several others, according to Shifa Hospital.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
This opaqueness from earlier in the season pays off in the form of John recounting the brutal methods the Manhunter used to decimate this planet, involving a fear gas that made people kill one another and jump to their deaths.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of kill

Noun

The water flow is being managed at Canton Lake, and the Corps of Engineers said the goal is to have between 600 and 730 cubic feet of water per second leave through sluice gates during the greatest period of flow.

— Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 22 Sep. 2026
Dam Removal Europe found that the number of dams dismantled in 2025, along with other water-flow controls like weirs, culverts and sluices, grew by 11% from the year before.

— Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 3 June 2026

Definition of sluice

Noun

In San Clemente, a town of 62,000 people, urban development has slowed the flow of sediment that once nourished the city's beaches, and warmer ocean waters have pushed waves higher and further ashore.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
The researchers say future work will need to improve the electrolyte, flow-cell design, and stability of the palladium membrane.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of flow

Verb

No new rules have been issued regarding the trade, but some bond watchers wonder if the growing popularity of the trade might siphon capital that would otherwise be allocated to the bond market.

— Oliver Renick, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Postmortem commentaries on the campaign agreed that many factors were at play in Sinclair’s loss — FDR had kept his distance and progressive candidate Raymond Haight siphoned off votes from Sinclair — but Hollywood proudly took credit.

— Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of siphon

Verb

The chips are power-hungry (a ChatGPT AI query consumes about ten times as much energy as a normal Google search) and also generate a lot of heat, which requires cooling systems.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
Maneuvering consumes energy, and atmospheric flight produces substantial heating and drag.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of consume

Verb

All officers on the scenes of vehicle stops must wear and activate their body cameras, under the guidance.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
To balance its titular genres—to portray Bogart as playing Spider-Man—the show needed an actor who would neither wear the role like a suit nor find it within himself.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of wear

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“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of drain

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noun

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Synonyms of drain

verb

noun

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More from Merriam-Webster on drain

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