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
His responsibilities included draining the castle moat and coordinating work at heights of more than 150 feet. Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 18 June 2026 The pool will remain closed for several days while it is drained, cleaned, and inspected before reopening to the public, according New Canaan Parks and Recreation director John Howe. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Noun
Regular maintenance, like changing air filters and clearing drain lines, prevents buildup and keeps your AC running smoothly. Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 June 2026 Heavy black residue was observed in the floor drain near the handwashing sink. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado june 5, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Verb
  • Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2026
  • Martín Pérez was on the mound for the home team, a soft-tossing veteran lefty who was pumping in 89-mph sinkers.
    Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation.
    Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
  • Clare joins me now to share why readers are spending real time and money to live inside their favorite fictional stories.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Los Angeles police Friday released bodycam footage of an officer killing a woman’s pet dog in a case that has sparked outrage and questions.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • The Israeli strikes killed five people around the town of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, according to the official news agency NNA, and the army said a soldier was along the victims.
    Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 20 June 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
  • In the director’s view, fragmented editing breaks emotional continuity; an unbroken take mirrors the uninterrupted flow of lived experience.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 June 2026
  • Just past noon, a young man appeared on the north side of San Vicente Boulevard, a block west of Hauser, and eyeballed the flow of westbound traffic.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • If discovering tiny insect casings or sticky residue, this often indicates those insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts that slowly siphon sap from plants, depleting their ability to feed themselves through photosynthesis.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 20 June 2026
  • According to Stanford’s White, although Union Pacific had a huge amount of capital, much of it was siphoned off to the Credit Mobilier, the construction company working on the project, which was owned by insiders at the time.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • The fact that it was conceived without thought and for decades was produced and consumed without thought is immaterial.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 20 June 2026
  • Treat Infestations Sprinkling a mix of equal parts borax and sugar can help get rid of bugs like ants and roaches (they’ll be attracted to the sugar and die after consuming the borax).
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The high-quality dress can be worn all summer long, in playful hues like white and green.
    Sarah DiMuro, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026
  • The key to modernizing the pinkish-orange color in 2026 is to wear it in loose, easy silhouettes.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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