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

Other pieces for Middleton’s Belfast look included a set of Gianvito Rossi pumps in black leather, along with a green Mulberry top-handle handbag.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Petrobras pumps mostly medium-sweet crude from this pre-salt layer.

— Todd Gordon, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of pumps

Verb

Instead of occupying both sides with large cooling vents, air enters toward the front of the station and exhausts through the rear.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of exhausts

Verb

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier wears his faith on his sleeve and shares it in legal opinions and threatening missives on state letterhead.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Protection wears with use, so consumers can refresh it on a later visit.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of wears

Noun

Infrastructure funding would be used to maintain pavement, curbs, gutters, alleys, bridges and culverts throughout the city.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
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

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

Every operation consumes computational resources, while storing intermediate results requires additional qubits.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Someone who orally consumes ketamine would typically begin to feel its effects within 20 minutes.

— Christopher P. Holstege, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of consumes

Verb

Russian barrage kills a 21-year-old woman The Russian nighttime barrage hit 28 substations and other crucial energy facilities, depriving more than half a million people of electricity, heat and running water, Zelensky said on social media.

— Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
How to make a watch party interactive Dead air during commercials kills the mood fast.

— Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026