DROWN Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

drown

verb

ˈdrau̇n

Definition of drown

as in to flood

to cover with a flood whole villages drowned by the rampaging river

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid drowned the carpet with shampoo, and so it took forever to dry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to wet

to make wet cooked pasta drowned in marinara sauce

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 drown Hugo Weaving plays a brilliant but disgraced attorney, drowning in debt, who reluctantly defends an allegedly dangerous dog, battling to save its life. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Bread & Butter’s title track is the only time when things decamp to the treacly, mostly because of how Cartunez’s syrupy beat drowns out Droog’s hazy memories of 9/11 and descriptions of a side chick who looks like Ronnie from The Player’s Club. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026 According to Coast Guard recreational boating statistics, 87% of drowning victims in 2024 were not wearing a life jacket in cases where life-jacket use was known. — Kenny Choi, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 In Atrahasis, noisy humans become annoying to the gods, so the gods drown them. — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drown

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drown

Verb

The greatest concern is high tide through Sunday morning and swells from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel could create dangerous conditions with beach erosion and seawater once again flooding beach roads and paths.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
The urgency around courting nonaligned voters has been on display at recent debates, in ads flooding the airwaves and in the campaign money pouring into key states.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

Establishing the run — and stopping it — could decide the winner on a playing surface soaked from rain during the days leading up to UF’s homecoming.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Last winter destroyed thousands of tents in Gaza, soaking clothes, mattresses, and bedding, even as Save the Children reported that Israel was blocking critical aid such as tent poles, winter clothes, and blankets.

— Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of soak

Verb

An off-duty KCPD detective and a Clay County sheriff’s deputy immediately jumped into action last week after spotting a Ford F-150 pickup truck engulfed in flames along Interstate 35 — and the whole thing was caught on camera.

— Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026
And for much of the game Sunday, gloom once again engulfed McVay and a team that opened the season as a heavy Super Bowl favorite.

— Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of engulf

Verb

In too many countries, young people are still pushed to go to university even though many will drop out or the job market for their career choice is saturated.

— the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026
Additional rain could also further saturate soils and increase the risk of flash flooding following recent significant rainfall in the state.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of saturate

Verb

How many Japanese women wash their face and hands in the morning with coconut soap?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
Anyone who comes into contact with the bait’s liquid vaccine should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water, then call the phone number listed on the bait or their local health department for further instructions and referral.

— Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of wash

Verb

Bettany is by turns hilariously perplexed, in the universal manner of parents engaging with teens everywhere, and achingly tender, in the more unusual way of a robot letting himself be overwhelmed by feeling for the first time.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Clashes last week between armed groups from rival communities in the central part of South Sudan left scores of people dead and overwhelmed a hospital with wounded people, officials said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

Isaias’ bands could drench Florida’s Panhandle and Big Bend with as much as 15 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

— Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
But so far, only five changes have been made for original Week 8 games in the Orlando area — despite heavy rain that has drenched fields.

— Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of drench

Browse Nearby Words

droves

drown

drowned

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“Drown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drown. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of drown

verb

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