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 definitive study of feedback, Avraham Kluger and Angelo DeNisi’s meta-analysis of 23,663 observations, found that over a third of feedback interventions decreased performance.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
These include gravitational forces, commonly known as G-forces, that increase or decrease the pressure riders feel on their bodies during rapid acceleration and deceleration.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

Winds were expected to subside across much of Northern California on Friday, but gusty conditions were forecast to continue in southern portions of PG&E’s service territory into Saturday morning.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of subside

Verb

As seen from Planet 2, Planet 1 will appear to approach on the inside lane, slow down, move to the outside lane and then fall away once again.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
Almost from the cabin door a canyon falls away in a dizzying, near-vertical slope.

— Erwin A. Bauer, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall away

Verb

But the opening period didn’t end without a scary moment, as Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back side after being fouled on a dunk attempt late in the first quarter.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Shares of Oracle fell about 9% amid a broader downturn for stocks of top AI stakeholders.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall

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.

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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 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of drain (away)

verb

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