DRAIN (AWAY) Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

drain (away)

verb

Definition of drain (away)

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually as the city lost population, its political influence drained away

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain (away)

Verb

The Postal Service has grappled with increasing costs as mail volumes have steadily decreased for years.

— Stella Canino-Quiñones, Washington Post, 10 July 2026
Opponents of the task force note that crime was already decreasing in Memphis before the unit’s arrival.

— Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
Kylian Mbappé’s powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through.

— James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

Violence flared and subsided periodically, and Lebanon and Israel reached ceasefire agreements in 1993, 1996 and after a 2006 war.

— Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
Execution remains the big question, but doubts around Apple's strategy have largely subsided.

— Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Definition of subside

Verb

Bogdanos declined the cash, which is instead being donated to nonprofits of his choosing.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026
Even as remote work has declined from its pandemic highs, the data shows nearly 22% of workers still worked at least partly from home in 2025, only 1 percentage point less than the number who partly worked from home during the year prior.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 9 July 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

Once inside The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, entered via Pearson Street, the Mag Mile bustle falls away, replaced by a glassy aerie with views of the John Hancock Center.

— Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Tubbs’s plan to follow his father into the military began to fall away as a new mission—to save animals—took hold.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

Definition of fall away

Verb

Some older employees who have benefited from a booming stock market may be retiring feeling comfortable with their 401(k)s, though that doesn’t explain why the participation rate for people ages 25 to 55 has fallen.

— Rachel Barber, USA Today, 9 July 2026
But for some Atlanta businesses, the major soccer tournament has fallen far short of expectations.

— Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 9 July 2026

Definition of fall

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drain

drain (away)

drained

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“Drain (away).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain%20%28away%29. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of drain (away)

verb

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