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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exhausts
to make complete use of virtually drained the country's natural resources

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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

drains

2 of 2

noun

plural of drain
1
as in sluices

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2
as in flows

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Dissimilar Words

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
Redesign how the job actually gets done on-site, begin with where your people spend their time and what drains it, and bring in technology to serve that work. — Jessica Beck, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Continue reading … DIGITAL HEIST — Coldcard wallet attack drains up to $89M in Bitcoin from 1,200+ addresses. — FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Dominguez Channel begins in Hawthorne and drains Gardena, Torrance, Harbor Gateway, Carson and Wilmington. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Even better, the rotating spout drains excess water straight back into the sink, so your cleaning tools dry faster, and your countertops stay free of those grimy little puddles that always seem to collect around the faucet. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 28 July 2026 Sleep researchers say fighting against your chronotype drains energy, while syncing with it makes productivity and mood click into place. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026 Nutrient leaching when water drains out of containers and baskets adds to the problem. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026 The minerals are absorbed through the skin, boosting circulation and inducing a sweat that drains away the toxins. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026 In areas with valleys or basins, cooler and denser air drains downhill and pools in low spots overnight, a process known as cold-air pooling. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 1 July 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
  1. pumps
  2. exhausts
  3. wears
  4. gutters
  5. flows
  6. empties
  7. consumes
  8. kills
Verb
  • The teen was using an apparatus called a third lung, which floats on the water's surface and pumps air to divers through a breathing hose, the affidavit said.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • There is also a prototype pair of red Valentino Garavani Rockstud pumps identical to those worn by Streep in the film’s trailer.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of pumps
Verb
  • That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026
  • Watching this scene, and much of the film, exhausts me.
    — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026
Definition of exhausts
Verb
  • An Arizona resident wears it to protect themselves from the sun.
    — Essence Wiley, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In film, this hairstyle has become emblematic, notably in Bend It Like Beckham, where Keira Knightley wears it with a short curtain crop.
    — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of wears
Noun
  • Keep gutters clean and ensure water flows away from your home to prevent foundation damage and basement flooding.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Artificial snow is piled up in their gutters, smoke seems to billow from the chimneys on the roofs and the windows of the cottages are filled with moving models of colorful creatures from the films.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of gutters
Noun
  • 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
Definition of flows
Verb
  • 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
  • Eufy Robot Vacuum and Mop Deal The Eufy Omni C20 vacuum and mop offers a hands-free clean with an Omni Station that automatically empties dust, plus washes and dries its own mop pads.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026
Definition of empties
Verb
  • Higher follower counts and active social engagement attract major brand sponsors, even if a viewer consumes clips rather than full episodes.
    — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Murrill told lawmakers last year that defending the state against these claims consumes an enormous amount of time and resources and that the fund should be abolished altogether.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of consumes
Verb
  • Agent Orange is a powerful chemical that kills weeds and acts as a defoliant, which the military used during the war in Vietnam to clear dense jungle and destroy food crops.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In retaliation for Kanan murdering her father Marvin (London Brown), Jukebox (Hailey Kilgrove) kills Raq, the woman who raised her.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of kills

Browse Nearby Words

drainpipes
drains
drains (away)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drains. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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