1
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
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drain
Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
To prevent drowning your peace lily, use a chunky potting mix that is fast-draining.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
When to Stop Using Your Garden Hose Disconnect, drain, and store your hose before a hard freeze to guarantee all the water is out and the spigot is protected.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Verb
Guard Carly Keats had the hot hand for Southern Miss, draining 5-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc and scoring 17 points.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
To prevent drowning your peace lily, use a chunky potting mix that is fast-draining.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
Find the drain valve and connect the garden hose to the drain valve.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Dec. 2025
When to Stop Using Your Garden Hose Disconnect, drain, and store your hose before a hard freeze to guarantee all the water is out and the spigot is protected.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
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Arizona’s current groundwater law, adopted in 1980, limits pumping in Phoenix, Tucson and other urban areas.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Plus, pumping the calf muscles during heel raises increases lower leg circulation.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Joabe Barbosa, Matthew Plese and Omar Yousaf spent the day riding the entire MARTA rail system in an attempt to complete the full route in roughly three hours.—
Kaley Fedko,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Visitors can spend their entire trip switching off between the two, but be sure to take some time to explore the rocky cove beaches called calas that have made Costa Blanca famous.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Iranian authorities have blocked access to the internet, arrested thousands and killed hundreds of protesters.—
Narges Bajoghli,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Eventually, the animals were clustered into a sluice-like enclosure, and then the animals would be extracted one by one.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
9 Dec. 2025
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Charlie got into the shower, letting the hot water sluice off the rest of the blood on her back and whatever had dried in her hair.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In a conventional turbine, blades are angled to deflect fluid flow and convert kinetic energy into mechanical work.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
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Levito is the balletic counter to Glenn and Liu’s powerhouse style, but her long lines and easy flow on the ice are balanced by her consistent triple jumps, which could land her in the top 10 at the Olympics.—
Alice Park,
Time,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Israel has said throughout the war that Hamas was siphoning off aid supplies, an accusation that the United Nations and aid groups have denied.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Jan. 2026
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Most of them run on some of the dirtiest fuel in the world, the leftover gunk after all the other useful parts are siphoned off to make gasoline and other more valuable petroleum products.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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His first time on air, and another chance to change how viewers consume the country’s most popular sport, was only minutes away.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
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When possible, consume vitamin A through nutritious foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, liver, and eggs instead of dietary supplements to optimize your health.—
Megan Nunn,
Verywell Health,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meyer, meanwhile, wore a white graphic tee with black mini shorts and a Thom Browne top coat, W reported.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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He was last seen wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel-toe boots, police said.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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