DRAINS Synonyms: 167 Similar and Opposite Words

drains 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of drain

as in pumps

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 exhausts

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wears

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

drains

2 of 2

noun

plural of drain

as in sluices

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as in flows

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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 drains

Verb

While voters’ choices have been, more often than not, defensible, the unanimity betrays a lack of imagination and drains any hint of drama from the ceremony. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Beijing is quite happy, for now at least, to watch as the US drains its treasure policing the world’s sea lanes, keeping transnational drug gangs and fraudsters in check, and maintaining global financial stability. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The alien needs salt to survive, and the couple’s supply is running low, so the alien drains all of it from a poor Enterprise crew member’s body, and then a couple more who are beamed down later. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 Aerate The Soil Soil that drains poorly and becomes waterlogged will cause grass to suffer, but nutgrass can flourish in these conditions. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2026 Defensiveness extends conversations, weakens credibility and drains emotional energy that could have been directed toward solving problems. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Every square inch of land on Earth’s surface receives precipitation, and much of it drains out, eventually, to an ocean or lake. — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 This can be in a low spot in your yard that always drains poorly, or under a roof awning or near a gutter that is likely to overflow. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Aug. 2026 This $9 find keeps utensils in their place (literally), and this sink organizer has a spot for brushes, sponges, dish soap, and even drains water back into the sink for zero mess. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026

Noun

Descaling and Unclogging Uses Use cleaning vinegar to unclog stubborn drains by adding 1 cup of baking soda to your drain followed by 1 cup of cleaning vinegar, says Dills. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 25 Jan. 2026 Below, San Angelo gives us several methods for cleaning bathroom sink drains, her best tips on how to avoid a clogged bathroom sink, and what to avoid when cleaning your bathroom sink drain. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drains

Verb

Some models backstage wore classic Thom Browne brogue pumps with red, white and blue crisscross leg straps.

— Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Heart chamber walls change their shape, altering how the heart pumps blood.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of pumps

Verb

If a bureaucratic process exhausts whatever time a citizen has available, then benefits are lost or rights are denied.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026
That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026

Definition of exhausts

Verb

Underneath a Blossom-style hat, the model wears a set of enormous mismatched silver earrings that graze the shoulders of her sharp black blazer.

— Julia Hobbs, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2026
Outside of Sezane, the queen of Spain often wears shoe designs by Aquazzura, Calzados Picón, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Magrit and more.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of wears

Verb

Its all-in-one dock automatically empties debris, refills water, and washes and dries the mop pads to prevent odors.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
That access can be a convenience for paying bills, or a problem if one owner empties the account without the other’s agreement.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of empties

Verb

Construction is especially exposed because the machinery that consumes heavy commodities like cement and gravel is all diesel driven.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Lynch said more than 60% of the audience already consumes the show only as a podcast.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of consumes

Verb

Its bubbling action lifts dirt, kills bacteria, and removes mold and mildew without harsh fumes.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026
Lizzie subsequently kills Manchester with a hatchet, with Maggie present, before the pair turn their attention to Andrew and Abby.

— Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026