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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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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1
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drain
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Until then, the negative effects of import taxes such as rising unemployment and a slowing economy will drain trillions of dollars from the revenues the administration hopes to raise.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
That’s hundreds of billions of your tax dollars flushed down the drain without swamp bureaucrats blinking an eye.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Verb
Additional work to drain the swamp would drain the state’s treasury.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Until then, the negative effects of import taxes such as rising unemployment and a slowing economy will drain trillions of dollars from the revenues the administration hopes to raise.
—Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the kitchen, sewage backed up in the floor drain from a handwash sink and the three-comparment sink at the Palm Beach County restaurant.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
That’s hundreds of billions of your tax dollars flushed down the drain without swamp bureaucrats blinking an eye.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for drain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drain
Noun
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This option returns the pond to its full former glory including sluice gate repair, dredging the full pond area and recreational enhancements to include 5.7 acres of open water and two fishing platforms.—
Erik S. Hanley,
Journal Sentinel,
9 Dec. 2024
-
In 2014, Kyrgyz and Tajik conscripts exchanged fire over a strategic sluice in Ak-Sai.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Aug. 2016
Noun
-
Viral infections, blood flow blockages to the auditory nerve, and strokes are other potential causes of sudden deafness.15 What level of deafness is considered a disability?—
Heidi Cope,
Health,
20 Apr. 2025
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Traffic flow along Pacific Coast Highway has been reduced to one lane in each direction and Temescal Canyon Road remains closed to create what the Army leaders call a TDRS — Temporary Debris Reduction Site.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Peels can create a huge mess in the drainpipes down the road.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Nesting materials clog up gutters and drainpipes and lead to water or mold damage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In fiscal 2024, the General Fund reported $33.9 trillion in cash inflows and $33.6 trillion in outflows, according to government figures.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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Another possibility is that the main outflow is breaking apart, creating this strange shape.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But during city reviews, officials asked for a curb, gutter and sidewalk across the length of the frontage, which would destroy the trees.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2025
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Drew Guthrie, of the same engineering firm, said the drainage would be improved with development of the property as the construction would include a curb and gutter system and three drainage areas.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drain. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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