1
as in wetting
to make wet
we were drenched by the sudden rainstorm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in soaking
to wet thoroughly with liquid
when using the carpet shampooer, wet but do not drench the carpet
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 drenching
After weeks of dry and warm weather, powerful winter storms are expected to bring multiple days of drenching rain and heavy mountain snow to the western United States through the week, forecasters warned.
—
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Seen as an extension of the green drenching trend—where homeowners layer greens like compact conifers, ferns, evergreen shrubs, and vines to create a lush atmosphere—this garden design also provides a soothing backdrop.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
This extension of the color-drenching trend that took the design space by storm in recent years is an ideal way to play with fun colors and prints.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Then, a second winter of drenching storms triggered two more slides, including one that completely buried another section of California’s Highway 1 under 300,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock and debris.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
As two cars appeared to weigh the cost of moving forward, a tall wave crashed down onto the road, completely drenching one of the cars, as seen in the footage captured by Carmelo Magenta.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
DIYers can create a cohesive look by painting the ceiling in a shade from the same color palette as the walls—just a bit lighter or darker—to give it subtle contrast without fully color-drenching the space.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
In Good Time and Uncut Gems, his worship of all things kosmische created a peculiar contrast with the images on screen, drenching the brothers’ grainy tales of ’10s debauchery in the aura of an earlier time.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025
Another storm will bring heavy rain, drenching Northern California, arriving early Thursday and lasting through Friday.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Seen as an extension of the green drenching trend—where homeowners layer greens like compact conifers, ferns, evergreen shrubs, and vines to create a lush atmosphere—this garden design also provides a soothing backdrop.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
This extension of the color-drenching trend that took the design space by storm in recent years is an ideal way to play with fun colors and prints.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Then, a second winter of drenching storms triggered two more slides, including one that completely buried another section of California’s Highway 1 under 300,000 cubic yards of dirt, rock and debris.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
As two cars appeared to weigh the cost of moving forward, a tall wave crashed down onto the road, completely drenching one of the cars, as seen in the footage captured by Carmelo Magenta.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
DIYers can create a cohesive look by painting the ceiling in a shade from the same color palette as the walls—just a bit lighter or darker—to give it subtle contrast without fully color-drenching the space.
—Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
In Good Time and Uncut Gems, his worship of all things kosmische created a peculiar contrast with the images on screen, drenching the brothers’ grainy tales of ’10s debauchery in the aura of an earlier time.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 23 Dec. 2025
Another storm will bring heavy rain, drenching Northern California, arriving early Thursday and lasting through Friday.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 17 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drenching
Verb
-
To water from the top, pour water over the soil, avoiding wetting the leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
After years without accidents, Maria started wetting her pants and her bed.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Make sure to use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one, or use a floor spray designed for hardwood floors and a dry cleaning pad to clean the surface.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
For extra protection, Stowell suggests soaking strawberries in a mixture of one part white vinegar to three parts water for five to 10 minutes, then rinsing thoroughly.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the number one cause of death in the United States for children ages one to four.—
Jobina Fortson-Evans,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office ruled their cause of death as drowning.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This Valentine’s Day, consider saturating your nails in a lush, deep red as rich as red velvet cake.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Be sure to add milk mixture slowly and gradually to avoid over-saturating the cake.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wash Delicates Keep delicates separate from other garments by washing them in old pillowcases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The method was also easier than washing and drying grapes before storage, and a brief rinse before eating removed any trace of vinegar flavor.—
Alma Avalle,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sealing granite surfaces with an impregnating sealer supplies protection against stains.—
Caitlin Sole,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Nov. 2025
-
The financier had also spent decades aspiring to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating women at his vast, secluded desert ranch in New Mexico.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
15 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The study also noted that many of these companies guaranteed some news outlets would cover the press releases, and were essentially flooding the space with garbage crypto information dressed up to look like reliable news.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
However, two devastating challenges not readily realized are flooding and future water scarcity affecting our farms and ranches.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drenching. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
