1
as in to pump
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to spend
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of drain
PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The suburb’s alleys create the perfect transmission pathway, with no cross-ventilation, open drains clogged with garbage, and families of six huddled in single rooms.
—CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
But what if that same behavior is, in reality, draining value from the organization?
—Rahul Bhandari, Harvard Business Review, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Verb
Meanwhile, some users may also experience quick battery drain with the new software.
—PC Magazine, 23 Sep. 2025
The suburb’s alleys create the perfect transmission pathway, with no cross-ventilation, open drains clogged with garbage, and families of six huddled in single rooms.
—CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
Open the outside hose bibs to allow water to drain.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 9 Oct. 2025
But what if that same behavior is, in reality, draining value from the organization?
—Rahul Bhandari, Harvard Business Review, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
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
-
The veteran had entered the game with only eight catches for 62 yards this season as Payton continued to tinker with how to best insert him into the flow of the offense.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Tom walks off and calls his daughters to celebrate before immediately going back into the flow.—
Grace Byron,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Peels can create a huge mess in the drainpipes down the road.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The rattlesnake named Gertrude, or Gertie, took shelter in the opening of a drainpipe earlier this summer and gave birth around late July or early August at the University of Michigan’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens, the Detroit Free Press previously reported.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
According to China’s balance of payment data, net foreign direct investment plummeted from peak inflows of $334 billion in 2021 to outflows of nearly $154 billion in 2024, according to Chinese data provider Wind.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
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But a new study points in a different direction, linking them instead to superwind outflows from spiral host galaxies.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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Zone 1 — which extends 30 feet from a building — requires property owners to do things such as clear dead plants, grass as well as leaves and pine needles from yards, roofs and gutters; trim overhanging branches; and keep a 10-foot gap between trees.—
Hannah Ruhoff,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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