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
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
Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
Make sure to soak the plant thoroughly so the water drains from the bottom of the pot.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
What Hulu did years ago with its Castle Rock series, remixing different threads across King’s universe with a playful wink, Welcome to Derry approaches with a dutiful studiousness that drains it of fun.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
This includes bilge drains, cooler compartments, baitwells and livewells.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
After the water drains through, fill the hole again.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
The company says the modification ensures rainwater drains more effectively and the tent better sheds snow so as not to get overloaded.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Watch for when the sun hits different sections of your garden, how water drains after a heavy rain, and what critters (large and small) like to stop by for a visit.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Sulfur tends to form long chains during charging and discharging, which blocks the flow of ions and quickly drains the battery’s power.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Source clarity can save time and reduce the back-and-forth that drains energy during tight deadlines.
—Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 6 Nov. 2025
Make sure to soak the plant thoroughly so the water drains from the bottom of the pot.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
What Hulu did years ago with its Castle Rock series, remixing different threads across King’s universe with a playful wink, Welcome to Derry approaches with a dutiful studiousness that drains it of fun.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
This includes bilge drains, cooler compartments, baitwells and livewells.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
After the water drains through, fill the hole again.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
The company says the modification ensures rainwater drains more effectively and the tent better sheds snow so as not to get overloaded.
—New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025
Watch for when the sun hits different sections of your garden, how water drains after a heavy rain, and what critters (large and small) like to stop by for a visit.
—Mike Irvine, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Sulfur tends to form long chains during charging and discharging, which blocks the flow of ions and quickly drains the battery’s power.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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
-
Sweeney matched the Manolo Blahnik pumps to a 1996 Versace suit featuring a knee-length pleated skirt and a button-down collared jacket.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Fuel points could be redeemed at Fry's Fuel Center pumps for up to $1 off per gallon, with every 100 points valid for 10 cents off per gallon.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The group exhausts and irritates opposing pitchers.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Nothing, not even the slog of a miles long backcountry ski, exhausts me like chugging upward on two wheels.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Grace Van Patten wears a flowy dress to celebrate the E1 Miami GP in Miami, with Bombay Sapphire.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
-
As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The vacuum detects dirt, auto-refills its tank, empties dust, and reacts to and avoids obstacles.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The researchers also modeled gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach empties more slowly, often due to diabetes or viral infections.—
Alyssa Hui-Anderson,
Verywell Health,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, each conversion step consumes energy, introduces delay, and loses some of the information carried by the original signal.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Light distorts, sound bends; the signal consumes the chamber, turning technology into liturgy.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
During a final confrontation, all of this comes to light, Josephine accidentally shoots and kills Irvine family friend Colin (Jay Ellis), and Peter not-so-accidentally shoots and kills Josephine.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Lately though, claims about the practice have grown, with viral videos and content creators claiming that exposing your blankets to freezing temperatures kills bacteria, banishes allergens, and more.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Residents who live on private streets and properties without curbs or gutters don’t qualify for a visit from the Claw.—
Sarah Linn
November 5,
Sacbee.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Beyond pipe replacements, some residents on the east side have been waiting for the city to add sidewalks and underground gutters as many communities still have a ditch gutter system to manage the water, which can be problematic for nearby homes due to flooding risk.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The filing comes days after Spotify was accused in another class action lawsuit of permitting massive amounts of streaming fraud on its platform, which siphons royalties from artists whose numbers aren’t artificially inflated.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drains. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share