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

Relevance

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 And the potential circumstances surrounding Wells’ death aren’t limited to foul play or accidental drowning. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 The vessel eventually wrecked on a reef in the Florida Keys in 1827, drowning 41 people. — Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026 Two people drowned in floodwaters Wednesday in the southern province of Bukidnon, Mariano said, without providing details. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 Of the 32 people who died, several drowned while trying to reach safety. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for drown

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drown

Verb

The final show of Jay-Z's anniversary concert series at Yankee Stadium on Sunday was delayed for hours after hundreds of ticketless fans flooded the gates and breached security, according to officials.

— Christina Fan, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Social media feeds are flooded with highlights and memes of the Norway striker, and fans can’t get enough.

— Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 13 July 2026

Definition of flood

Verb

Lime and hard-water deposits can be removed by soaking all the parts in warm white vinegar for a few hours.

— Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
For things with a thicker skin (apples, zucchinis, potatoes), take a vegetable brush, gently brush each piece, then allow to soak for 15 minutes.

— Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 11 July 2026

Definition of soak

Verb

Reduce irrigation to only once or twice a week to wet the soil to help control this problem.

— Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
The mountain thunderstorms are expected to continue Monday and Tuesday but should be accompanied by wetting rains that dampen fire risk, with about a tenth of an inch of precipitation, Molina said.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of wet

Verb

Platner's withdrawal caps days of turmoil that had engulfed his campaign and intensifies pressure on Democratic leaders to quickly coalesce around an alternative candidate.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 July 2026
That raised concerns that the region could tip back into a war that would engulf several countries and could halt energy shipments through the strait that are crucial for the global economy.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of engulf

Verb

After surviving a dramatic 3–2 extra-time victory over Senegal in the Round of 32, the Belgians overwhelmed the USMNT, which had advanced in a 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
The Americans played sloppy and ugly soccer in the first half, and Belgium overwhelmed the home side.

— Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of overwhelm

Verb

At Dover Street Market’s Rose Bakery in Paris on day four of Men’s Fashion Week, around 40 runners arrived for breakfast, drenched in sweat.

— Grace Cook, Vogue, 7 July 2026
This Brooklyn town house layers English textiles and plays with color drenching to maximize its tighter spaces but maintains its tidiness by paring back on decor.

— Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2026

Definition of drench

Browse Nearby Words

droves

drown

drowned

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Drown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drown. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of drown

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on drown

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes