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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
The Ravens have lost four in a row to fall to 1-5, and a season of great expectations is circling the drain. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 Some frozen food was improperly thawed, other food was improperly labeled, and the only hand sink in the kitchen couldn’t be used because of problems with the drain. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
The extra-large water tank allows the machine to run for up to eight hours without needing to drain. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 Boaters, kayakers and anglers can help reduce bioinvasions by cleaning, draining and drying their equipment after each use to avoid carrying invasive species to new locations. Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 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.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Overnight on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military, a gas processing facility and pumping station in the Volgograd region of southern Russia were also hit.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With wine pairings, expect to spend around €120 for two people.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Fortune’s series, The Good Life, shows how up-and-coming leaders spend their time and money outside of work.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said Afghan forces have captured 25 Pakistani army posts, 58 soldiers have been killed, and 30 others wounded.
    NPR, NPR, 12 Oct. 2025
  • In Israel's ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • Mauna Lani staff still manage the ponds in the traditional way: Ocean tides bring fish in through a series of wooden sluice gates.
    Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • These lightweight screens add to the smooth, streamlined design of the laminar-flow airframe, engineered to minimize drag and improve fuel efficiency.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2025
  • But an Eagles offense with no flow only gave him 12 carries.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Employers can tap our natural human urge to connect through culture-building and clear organizational purpose – especially during rapid transformation like the AI revolution and other economic pressures.
    Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
  • To this end, Cucinelli urged the independent players to tap into the online commerce without betraying their identity of exclusivity and desirability, subtly reprimanding those who embraced the gray market outright.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The term broadly refers to working out while consuming only slightly more calories than the body needs to maintain itself, and getting those calories from healthy sources.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
  • These facilities consume vast amounts of energy, much of it to stay cool, a problem that optical links can help mitigate These facilities consume vast amounts of energy, much of it to stay cool.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tempo could help wear them out, as the Giants have pressured the quarterback on nearly 46% of their defensive snaps when Carter, Burns and Thibodeaux are on the field at the same time, according to Next Gen Stats.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
  • In her bestie Selena Gomez’s wedding photos, the Rare Beauty founder appeared to wear a number of white dresses for her nuptials to Benny Blanco in September.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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