DRAINING Synonyms: 233 Similar and Opposite Words

draining 1 of 2

adjective

as in exhausting

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Dissimilar Words

draining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drain

as in pumping

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in consuming

to make complete use of virtually drained the country's natural resources

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as in killing

to use up all the physical energy of the long hike drained us

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of draining

Adjective

This is a good time to organize the list, clarify expectations, or make a routine feel less draining. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Speaking of the part of van life spent behind the wheel, Volkswagen has slightly reworked the Grand California's driver-assistance suite to make driving a little less draining. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026 Others are voluntarily asking to see more patients because the most draining and time-consuming parts of their job are now handled by AI. — Fj Campbell, Fortune, 20 May 2026 Already carrying wider spans of control and shrinking development support, a manager operating against an outdated role definition is doing something more draining than managing a heavy workload. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 Asch recommends finding a driver-friendly activity to make time on the road feel less draining, such as listening to an audiobook or podcast. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events. — Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025 By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining. — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025

Verb

What is clear is that Keith and Camilla’s search for answers is time-consuming, mentally draining and deeply frustrating, compounded by their grief and not helped by what feels like a lack of accountability. — Stuart James, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Condensation water was draining slowly from the walk-in cooler at the floor drain. — Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 There weren’t any large, reckless purchases draining her bank account. — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026 Similarly, the downspouts may be too short or improperly placed, causing the draining water to collect right beside the home, which can lead to interior flooding. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 9 Sep. 2026 Nutrient dense, well-draining soil is the best option for growing flavorful, healthy green onions. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 8 Sep. 2026 Sadly, the production was a downer, draining Kushner’s masterpiece of color and humor and inserting, in their place, gloomy projections of cityscapes and, unaccountably, David Bowie songs. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 Use a sunny spot, well-draining soil, and regular watering to keep mint thriving. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026 The law paved the way for thousands of victims to sue their abusers but has been criticized for draining the coffers of local governments. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining

Adjective

In typical Greengrassian fashion, The Uprising proves intense from first minute to last, the director utilizing his familiar handheld camera and frenetic editing style to an at times exhausting degree.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Suppressing tics as treatment Suppressing tics can be distracting and exhausting, yet decades of research has shown that tic suppression can be strengthened and used therapeutically.

— Michael Okun, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhausting

Verb

And in Libya, the national oil company has suspended operations at two oilfields and a pumping station amid protests, according to Reuters.

— Spencer Kimball,Justina Lee, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Five o’clock Saturday, the Riverside Stadium and Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg is fist-pumping a half-bewildered but fully enthused home crowd.

— Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of pumping

Verb

This matters because consistently consuming too much sodium can raise blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
There, 730 individuals fell ill after consuming MBG meals, though most — 706 of the victims — are now recovering from their symptoms at home, the outlet reported, citing Sidoarjo health office chief Lakhsmie Herawati Yuwantina.

— Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of consuming

Adjective

But the most mentally fatiguing aspect, the work found, was having to constantly supervise the AI tools, with some employees overseeing multiple AI agents performing different tasks at the same time.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026
My friend was in course of opening up his country house unassisted, and after a fatiguing day discovered that the only practical bed was a child’s affair— long enough but scarcely wider than a crib.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

Definition of fatiguing

Verb

Robert Saleh arrives in Tennessee after spending 2025 as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, returning to a head-coaching role after nearly four seasons leading the New York Jets.

— Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Meeting Kimberly Schlapman at Samford University, singing together in choir, and spending college summers performing in North Carolina.

— Sid Evans, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

Pisces February 19 – March 20 A busy day could reveal where your routine has been quietly wearing you down.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
After shooting Lino in the foot, the stranger reveals himself as Father Joe (Kiefer Sutherland), an actual priest who takes on Manhattan’s drug dealers wearing his work clothes.

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2026