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
Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
Fall is the season when gutters are most likely to back up, overflowing or preventing rainwater from draining away properly.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the floor sink was draining slowly.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Most cases are settled without being litigated, but even the threat of an action can prove psychologically and financially draining for someone trying to move on from a prior work relationship.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 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
This boost setting optimizes and tunes the speaker’s performance to produce a louder and crisper sound without draining the battery charge.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Keep your greens crisp by draining, rinsing, and patting them dry before using.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 2025
Fall is the season when gutters are most likely to back up, overflowing or preventing rainwater from draining away properly.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the floor sink was draining slowly.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Most cases are settled without being litigated, but even the threat of an action can prove psychologically and financially draining for someone trying to move on from a prior work relationship.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining
Verb
-
In place of the pumping house music typical of Venice red carpets, a somber ambient score accompanied the arrival, as festival chief Alberto Barbera walked arm in arm with Ben Hania into the Sala Grande Cinema.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Along with fist-pumping volume, the PartyBox 720 is the largest JBL party speaker that can run off battery power.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Stop exhausting yourself trying to be different leaders for different generations.—
Dana Williams,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The couple is accused of killing their 7-month-old son despite the fact that authorities have yet to find the infant's remains.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
After killing Martin, Lawson poured gasoline on the dead man's body and his surroundings before leaving the scene, according to police.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 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
-
Both are intoxicated, and Roman agrees, but Dennis gets caught up in the moment and starts sucking on Roman’s toes.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Will abandons his students at the first sight of Agnes walking by the classroom window, and the two of them are sucking faces a minute later.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Conversely, consuming healthy amounts of iron and vitamin D was associated with hair growth.—
Brian Mastroianni,
Health,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Such downsides are among the reasons many people opt against consuming too much cream cheese over a short period of time.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The friends were both wearing some form of American flag on their outfits and were visiting from Syracuse, New York.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The style is perfect for wearing into the cooler months, as it can easily be layered over cozy knits.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Fortunately, the resemblance to a police state has not been totally debilitating.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Draining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draining. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share