1
as in pumps
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 exhausts
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wears
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drains
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Field observations noted that a manhole at the location was spilling into an area roughly 100 feet by 10 feet, with runoff entering a stream that drains into the tributary.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 May 2026
The emotional layer drains energy that should go into producing the next asset.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
If your dishwasher drains directly outside of the home, consider re-routing it to the sink.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 May 2026
If your grocery bill already feels high, laundry detergent is one of those sneaky household costs that quietly drains your budget week after week.
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
For phones, there's not much that drains their battery as fast as playing demanding games, and PC games designed for dedicated desktop and laptop hardware are certainly demanding.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Bargain-bin potting mix often drains poorly or contains few nutrients to begin with.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
On the other end, the cheapest bagged potting mix often drains too quickly or contains almost no nutrients to feed new roots.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Make sure the soil at the planting site drains within one hour following heavy rain, as peach trees do not tolerate soggy soil.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 May 2026
Field observations noted that a manhole at the location was spilling into an area roughly 100 feet by 10 feet, with runoff entering a stream that drains into the tributary.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 27 May 2026
The emotional layer drains energy that should go into producing the next asset.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
If your dishwasher drains directly outside of the home, consider re-routing it to the sink.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 May 2026
If your grocery bill already feels high, laundry detergent is one of those sneaky household costs that quietly drains your budget week after week.
—Ryan Brennan
may 13, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
For phones, there's not much that drains their battery as fast as playing demanding games, and PC games designed for dedicated desktop and laptop hardware are certainly demanding.
—Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 7 May 2026
Bargain-bin potting mix often drains poorly or contains few nutrients to begin with.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
On the other end, the cheapest bagged potting mix often drains too quickly or contains almost no nutrients to feed new roots.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 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
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Congratulations are in order for Dua Lipa, who married Callum Turner over the weekend at a courthouse ceremony in London wearing a Schiaparelli suit with Christian Louboutin pumps to complete her all-white look — but those heels are far from the only shoes the British musician owns.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
3 June 2026
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My chest feels tight as my heart pumps against the elevation, though some of this sensation may simply be awe.—
Alexandra Oliva
June 1,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
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If the search for a large outdoor planter exhausts you—just get a terra-cotta planter.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
6 Apr. 2026
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As the oil blockade quickly exhausts Cuba’s supply of fuel, triggering a series of lengthy, island-wide blackouts, many here are exhausted and are becoming increasingly vocal about their desire for fundamental changes in Cuba.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out.—
Annie Blay-Tettey,
Allure,
29 May 2026
-
The character is an adult who drinks, wears impeccable clothing, and beds women—the familiar Bond tropes.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
29 May 2026
Noun
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About 20% of the world's oil flows throw the strait, and Iran's ability to block the flow of tankers has roiled the global economy, sending oil prices soaring.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To begin, lab assistant Julia Butac empties a burlap bag of beans into a bin and starts to sift them a couple handfuls at a time, removing anything that isn't a full bean.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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Best of all, its RockDock Plus empties the dustbin for me for up to seven weeks.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Reducing the need for permanent port fuel infrastructure To support continuous operations, the platform consumes roughly 16,500 to 17,600 pounds of hydrogen per week, stored in modular, ISO-compatible low-pressure containers integrated into the floating structure.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 May 2026
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When supply tightens in a state that still consumes tens of millions of gallons a day, prices become more volatile and more expensive.—
Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Strike on village kills most of a family Many residents of southern Lebanon remained in villages near the hostilities or returned to areas where strikes occurred after evacuation warnings.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
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There are no existing treatments or vaccines for Bundibugyo, which kills about 30% of those infected.—
Eva Flowe
June 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
When on a ladder, use a four-prong garden tool in a plowing motion to push leaves out of gutters.—
Emerson Latham,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 May 2026
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Crews also will be replacing underground utilities, and constructing curbs and gutters, between 16th Street and 24th Street in Fruitland, and between 3rd Avenue and 6th Avenue in Payette, the release said.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drains. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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