Synonyms of drains

drains 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of drain

1

as in pumps

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely

we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pumps
• empties
• siphons
• taps
• sucks
• bleeds
• draws (off)
• evacuates
• cleans
• drafts
• flushes
• exhausts
• purges
• milks
• depletes
• clears
• voids
• vacates
• effuses
• vacuates
• decants

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fills
• waters
• soaks
• bathes
• washes
• wets
• drenches
• overflows
• floods
• inundates
• douses
• drowns
• swamps
• submerges
• souses
• deluges

2

as in exhausts

to make complete use of

virtually drained the country's natural resources

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exhausts
• consumes
• spends
• absorbs
• reduces
• depletes
• burns
• uses
• empties
• eats
• expends
• devours
• plays out
• decreases
• runs out of
• wastes
• draws down
• uses up
• diminishes
• lowers
• weakens
• saps
• downsizes
• dwindles
• undermines
• cripples
• lessens
• bankrupts
• impoverishes
• debilitates
• cleans (out)
• enfeebles
• blows
• abates
• disables
• dissipates
• guzzles
• squanders
• de-escalates
• dries up
• runs through
• lavishes
• throws away
• fritters (away)
• misspends

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increases
• replaces
• augments
• repairs
• renews
• enlarges
• reinforces
• enforces
• strengthens
• restores
• preserves
• saves
• revives
• conserves
• bolsters
• fortifies
• rebuilds

3

as in wears

to use up all the physical energy of

the long hike drained us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wears
• exhausts
• kills
• tires
• busts
• wastes
• wearies
• breaks
• burns out
• harasses
• knocks out
• wears out
• fatigues
• washes out
• frazzles
• outwears
• weakens
• saps
• fags
• does in
• debilitates
• wears to a frazzle
• tuckers (out)
• enfeebles
• does up
• enervates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• activates
• energizes
• strengthens
• rests
• invigorates
• rejuvenates
• vitalizes
• relaxes
• unwinds

drains

2 of 2

noun

plural of drain

1

as in sluices

Related Words

• sluices
• gutters
• flumes
• ducts
• drainpipes
• spouts
• waterspouts
• conduits
• troughs
• rainspouts
• eaves troughs
• aqueducts

2

as in flows

Related Words

• flows
• outflows
• gushes
• outpourings
• ebbs
• refluxes
• reflows
• rushes
• outpours
• exoduses
• flights
• stampedes
• emissions
• emanations
• discharges
• emigrations
• diasporas
• effluences

Dissimilar Words

• inflows
• fluxes
• floods
• influxes
• overflows
• torrents
• rivers
• streams
• inundations
• tides
• inrushes
• deluges
• spates

Example Sentences

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