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
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
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Years of use as a makeshift neighborhood have degraded the forest and contributed to pollution in Coyote Creek, which drains into San Francisco Bay, city leaders say.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The cinematography drains vitality from even its most visually obvious ideas with lighting that blunts the impact of nearly every other department.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Sand drains too quickly, while heavy clay retains too much water.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Sandy soil, which drains quickly, requires more frequent watering than clay soil, which tends to hold onto moisture.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
War reshapes nations, costs lives, drains the national treasury, and often expands executive authority.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Pack drains a 3 and is up to 19 points, and Texas is on the verge of tumbling to the 10th seed in the SEC Tournament and back onto the NCAA bubble.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 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
Track where sunlight falls throughout the day, note where wind picks up and confirm that water drains away from the area.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
What Sacks doesn’t get is that by financing and diplomatically supporting Israel, our country makes the crimes of the Israeli government possible, which stains America’s reputation in the world and drains our Treasury.
—Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Years of use as a makeshift neighborhood have degraded the forest and contributed to pollution in Coyote Creek, which drains into San Francisco Bay, city leaders say.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The cinematography drains vitality from even its most visually obvious ideas with lighting that blunts the impact of nearly every other department.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026
Sand drains too quickly, while heavy clay retains too much water.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Sandy soil, which drains quickly, requires more frequent watering than clay soil, which tends to hold onto moisture.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
War reshapes nations, costs lives, drains the national treasury, and often expands executive authority.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Pack drains a 3 and is up to 19 points, and Texas is on the verge of tumbling to the 10th seed in the SEC Tournament and back onto the NCAA bubble.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 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
-
Semi-official Iranian agency Mehr News said multiple strikes had been reported on the island, to which Iran pumps almost all of its crude production through underwater pipelines for export.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The system diverts stormwater into a giant tank and then, at Fourteenth Street, pumps it out at up to three hundred and fifty million gallons a day, sending it on to the Newtown Creek wastewater facility.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The figure set for the Orlando location wears a suit inspired by Liu’s look at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Per tradition, Camilla also wears a Welsh gold band.—
Jessica Gibbs,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
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Every weekday before dawn, Deltona empties itself onto I-4.—
Christopher Bellingham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The bustling evening market, where locals gather for tacos, now empties out early.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But still, global supply is running well short of the roughly 104 million barrels per day the world consumes.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The average American consumes more than 200 pounds of meat annually, and that amount is growing.—
Andrew Zaleski,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spilling kills ocean wildlife, fouls beaches and disrupts coastal economies.—
Kristen Monsell,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Tragically, a collision which kills a parent bird may lead to the deaths of babies in the nest, too.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Other residents reported minor damage to their roofs, gutters and awnings.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
From tackling the clutter that traps dust to cleaning out your gutters, a spring clean-up can make a meaningful difference in how your home feels.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drains. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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