DRAINING Synonyms: 233 Similar and Opposite Words

draining 1 of 2

adjective

as in exhausting

Related Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in consuming

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in killing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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20 May 2026 Already carrying wider spans of control and shrinking development support, a manager operating against an outdated role definition is doing something more draining than managing a heavy workload.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

Fabricating a purely electromechanical robot at the millimeter scale requires intricate, heavy motors that consume significant power, typically draining tiny batteries within mere minutes of operation. — New Atlas, 18 July 2026 Roses require nutrient-rich, well-draining soil for healthy growth. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026 Buy one herb pot and carefully divide the individual seedlings, repotting each in a container filled with well-draining potting mix. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026 After such an emotionally draining set of matches, logic points to this one being a step too far. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 16 July 2026 On Monday, July 13, water was still slowly draining from the pool, according to USA TODAY reporting. — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Perhaps the schedule is unrealistic or maybe the job is draining you. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026 Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose agency oversees the National Park Service, told conservative podcaster Katie Miller in an interview released earlier this week that the new round of draining was planned. — ABC News, 10 July 2026 Those interventions will include draining his left knee, as manager Dave Roberts confirmed before the game Friday, and likely an injection, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining

Adjective

This exhausting existence has kept Lucky emotionally dependent on her father.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 July 2026
Slowing down to actually notice the trees around you is part of what makes long-distance hiking restorative rather than just exhausting.

— Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026

Definition of exhausting

Verb

Iran struck a pumping station on Saudi’s pipeline to the Red Sea in April, which slashed throughput by 700,000 bpd.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Doctors soon discovered a dangerous buildup of fluid surrounding Indiana's heart that was preventing it from pumping properly, requiring emergency surgery.

— Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of pumping

Verb

Because poppy seeds come from the same plant species used to produce opiates, consuming large amounts can sometimes lead to detectable levels of opiate compounds in urine tests.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026
The potential spread of massive water and electricity-consuming data centers into Florida has sparked fierce opposition from thousands of residents and drawn dividing lines between its most powerful politicians.

— Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 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

And with a handful of film distributors siphoning a greater portion of box office revenue, the states argue that theaters will likely be forced to raise ticket prices and slash investments for larger screens, luxury seating and concessions.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
Advertisement But the recent surge of new groups has confused CEOs, donors, and other key constituencies by pursuing often wildly divergent messages and contradictory agendas, inadvertently establishing circular firing squads, undermining unity, and siphoning resources from credible expert voices.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

Definition of siphoning

Verb

James spent four seasons in Miami, from 2010-14, after spending the first seven seasons of his NBA career with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 22 July 2026
After spending much of the year providing infield insurance, veteran shortstop Kyle Farmer has been released from the roster following a transaction that coincided with the return of one of Atlanta's key offseason additions.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

In a clearing in the forest, his younger selves sit at a long table with the abbott, who is wearing the final boss of season three’s awful wigs.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Javier Bardem, wearing a Spain replica shirt with Borja Iglesias’ name and No 26 on the back, was shown celebrating in the stands.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of wearing

Cite this Entry

Style

“Draining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draining. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of draining

adjective

verb

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