1
as in pumping
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consuming
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exhausting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Use fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil that’s well-draining, and amend it with compost or other organic matter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
In many cases, humans had destroyed their habitat by cutting down forests, draining wetlands and converting grasslands to agriculture.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
It was designed to be simple and lightweight, allowing quick access without draining a phone's battery.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Decision-making can be cognitively draining.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the floor sink was draining slowly.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The bowls have wavy, scalloped edges that give it an artisanal look as well as holds and cutouts for draining any lingering water.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
Use fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil that’s well-draining, and amend it with compost or other organic matter.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
In many cases, humans had destroyed their habitat by cutting down forests, draining wetlands and converting grasslands to agriculture.
—Tom Langen, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025
It was designed to be simple and lightweight, allowing quick access without draining a phone's battery.
—James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Decision-making can be cognitively draining.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the floor sink was draining slowly.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining
Verb
-
Travelers can expect to sail past incredible vistas of fjords and towering glaciers, or get their hearts pumping with a requisite polar plunge, diving into the icy waters for the ultimate rush.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In one of the images, Culpo appeared to be pumping milk while getting her hair done.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For more than a century, the region has been caught in a thrilling but exhausting economic romance.—
Reid Rasner,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Jones remained on Ohio's death row for decades, exhausting most of his appeals, until Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Wende Cross overturned his murder conviction, freed him from prison and granted him a new trial two years ago.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The apology came less than 24 hours after an unidentified shooter opened fire at a college university killing Kirk, a media personality and author.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Come to the table, as Republicans and Democrats, to pass solutions to the epidemic of gun violence that’s killing both of us.—
Gabby Giffords,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Grand Luna has an unprecedented high-frequency extension that goes as high as 30kHz, while remaining smooth, non-fatiguing, and eliminating harshness or sibilance thanks to Campfire’s acoustic engineering.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
So tech companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build out the data centers — giant, energy-sucking buildings full of computer servers — to ensure the US has the technical infrastructure to deliver all of the AI magic.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In addition, Apple seems to have been able to execute the upgrade without sucking up your spare storage with excessively large video files.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The North Korean government is increasingly executing civilians, including people found to be consuming unapproved foreign media, according to a report from the United Nations Human Rights Office.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
But some nutrition scientists warn that thanks to social media trends, many people may be consuming too much protein.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mourners, many of whom were visibly upset and wearing Walmart uniforms, placed electric candles at the memorial.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Citations for not having headlights on during rain, fog or smoke and for not wearing a seatbelt were also dismissed.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Measles, mumps and other vaccine-preventable diseases can cause debilitating and permanent damage.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Couture, 36, officially ended his NHL playing career in April, unable to completely get past his own debilitating injury that robbed him of a chance to leave the sport on his own terms.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Draining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draining. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share