as in exhausted
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
we were completely drained after shoveling snow all afternoon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pumped
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consumed
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tired
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drained
Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
What starts as small talk always ends up in heated debates that leave me feeling drained and resentful.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Soil and Water When choosing a place in your yard for skeleton flower plants, select loamy, well-drained, yet moist soil that is rich in organic matter—think forest floor, not a sunny vegetable garden.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
The issue arose while fueling the vehicle with 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant that were later drained.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
The Bulldogs drew up a play for Jake Heidbreder, who calmly drained an open 18-footer on the left baseline at the buzzer and was mobbed by students spilling out of the Save Mart Center stands.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Iowa closed within eight before Kneepkens drained a corner three at the buzzer to give UCLA a 39-28 lead at halftime.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, Yhan Medina helped Quincy (9-5) get off to a roaring start, as the junior captain drained six quick points in the opening frame to help the Presidents jump out to an early 19-15 lead through one quarter.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Zverev looked drained, desperately trying to stop an opponent who now felt like a runaway train.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As the fallout from their parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson continues, daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are emotionally drained, according to a new report from The Mirror.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Increase heat to medium, add drained pasta; cook, stirring constantly, until a creamy sauce forms and clings to pasta, about 2 minutes.
—Elizabeth Mervosh, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
What starts as small talk always ends up in heated debates that leave me feeling drained and resentful.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Once behind the panel, there should be a hose where the excess water can be drained from the outer drum.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Soil and Water When choosing a place in your yard for skeleton flower plants, select loamy, well-drained, yet moist soil that is rich in organic matter—think forest floor, not a sunny vegetable garden.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
The issue arose while fueling the vehicle with 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant that were later drained.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
The Bulldogs drew up a play for Jake Heidbreder, who calmly drained an open 18-footer on the left baseline at the buzzer and was mobbed by students spilling out of the Save Mart Center stands.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Iowa closed within eight before Kneepkens drained a corner three at the buzzer to give UCLA a 39-28 lead at halftime.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Yet, Yhan Medina helped Quincy (9-5) get off to a roaring start, as the junior captain drained six quick points in the opening frame to help the Presidents jump out to an early 19-15 lead through one quarter.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Zverev looked drained, desperately trying to stop an opponent who now felt like a runaway train.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
As the fallout from their parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson continues, daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are emotionally drained, according to a new report from The Mirror.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drained
Adjective
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Crowds gathered to watch the dogs cross the finish line, some particularly exhausted ones riding on their owners' sleds rather than pulling them.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Marc Maron, who helmed his engaging and transgressive interview show WTF for 13 years, is a Jersey Boy who sounds plaintive and exhausted.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Both contributions were pumped into the Illinois Future PAC, a political action committee run by Pritzker allies that supports Stratton.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
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At the same time, a salty liquid containing calcium chloride (a salt often used to de-ice roads) is pumped through the regenerator, which carries the heat away and ejects it to the surroundings on exit.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The cognitive benefits were most pronounced in those who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea daily.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The fallout from the files has consumed much of the news media in recent weeks, dominating headlines and coverage at major news institutions as journalists and independent creators dig through the files for embarrassing nuggets of association about high-profile individuals.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
24 Oct. 2025
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Many blue-city residents who have noticed a decrease in crime surely appreciate the safer streets, an environment that tired old No Kings boomers will never have to navigate.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One after another, people used the remaining seconds to share as the room slowly emptied.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
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Lurie has focused his mayoralty on improving quality of life in the city and bringing back business to the city’s downtown, which emptied out during the pandemic.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The numbers have been slowly ticking up for over a year – a rare bit of good news for a government that has spent billions of dollars for more than a decade encouraging people to do just that.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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The department also spent more than $17 million on support staff and administrative compensation.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cody Powers said that his mother wore State Farm sweatshirts and T-shirts and entered every promotion the company offered.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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Complex magazine also reported that the number may have served as a tribute to the singer's late uncle, who wore 64 as a football player.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Pincus said Pretti's mistake was getting sucked into the interaction between the agent and the female protester.—
John Diedrich,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The 2025 season began with six quarterbacks who had won Super Bowls, a product of the amount of oxygen that Patrick Mahomes and Brady have sucked out of the position.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drained. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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