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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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

Until, suddenly, the life drains from his eyes, sometimes for barely a second, and returning before anyone else in the scene notices. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026 The all-in-one dock cleans the spinning dual mops with hot water, dries them with warm air to prevent musty smells, and automatically drains and refills the water tank. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 When ground ice melts and water drains away, the surface can subside. — Ming Xiao, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026 Nothing drains a team faster than not knowing which version of leadership will show up today. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Calderas form when the ground above a magma reservoir collapses as the magma drains away. — Yook Ji Hun, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026 Once your washer drains, that water becomes wastewater alongside everything flowing from sinks, showers, toilets and dishwashers. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026 Not Improving Drainage Mums won’t thrive in soil that drains poorly and stays too soggy. — Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2026 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

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

Petrobras pumps mostly medium-sweet crude from this pre-salt layer.

— Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
The actress elevated the dress with a pair of Isabelle pumps from the late British designer’s label.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of pumps

Verb

If the low-breadth market finally exhausts itself and rolls over, your capital at risk is mathematically capped at that 3%.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of exhausts

Noun

There are no people in her piece, simply 45 silver images of Bowery storefronts and gutters, typically littered with empty bottles.

— J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Keep photos of the roof, gutters and attic from year to year, because that visual record is the fastest way to see change.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of gutters

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

When the 6-foot-3, 324-pound nose tackle consumes multiple blockers, that allows Dolphins linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Jordyn Brooks to roam free and see the high tackle production.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
The combination of social media and streaming created a world where everyone consumes content at virtually every moment of the day.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of consumes

Verb

When an unplanned blast kills a boy from the village, the elders take advance compensation to keep the peace.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Listeria infects about 1,250 people in the United States annually, according to the CDC, and kills about 172 of those people.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026