drown

verb

ˈdrau̇n How to pronounce drown (audio)
Definition of drownnext
1
as in to flood
to cover with a flood whole villages drowned by the rampaging river

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in to wet
to make wet cooked pasta drowned in marinara sauce

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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 At least 72 people died in the crossing, most by drowning, and the humanitarian crisis created by the sudden rush of people reignited a debate around immigration in Europe and beyond. — Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The incident occurred Saturday afternoon at Moonshine Beach on Table Rock Lake, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol drowning report. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026 Officials said many of the victims drowned while attempting the crossing, while others were killed in a stampede near a breakwater barrier. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Some migrants died by drowning while others were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier, the AP reported. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for drown
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drown
  1. flood
  2. soak
  3. wet
  4. engulf
  5. saturate
  6. wash
  7. overwhelm
  8. drench
Verb
  • This summer alone, we’re flooded with visitors excited to see the new Obama Presidential Center, enjoy Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza, or just visit the museums and hang out by the lake.
    — Ray LaHood, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But the ease of generating cheap, low-quality video has the potential to flood the platform with garbage, a threat that has been on the minds of company executives intent on making YouTube feel more, not less, premium.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of flood
Verb
  • The single-sink bathroom vanity had just enough room for two, but the massive walk-in shower featured a soaking tub.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • After two straight early morning practices soaked by rain, the Buffalo Bills finally got through a training camp session in the sunshine.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of soak
Verb
  • Arrange some small, flat stones around the puddle to give the butterflies a place to land, and then add enough water to moisten or wet the sand.
    — Joan Morris, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Pyne argues that Mediterranean Europe, much like California, is naturally predisposed to burn because of an annual cycle of wetting and drying.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of wet
Verb
  • The resulting, room-sized artwork engulfed visitors in a swirling fantasia featuring bouncing balls, morphing nets and slow-motion action shots of Messi.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026
  • Between July and August 2003, Western Europe was engulfed by its hottest summer since meteorological records began in 1540.
    — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of engulf
Verb
  • Drone swarms, meanwhile, trade individual capability for numbers, coordination, and the ability to saturate defenses.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
  • As with any trend that saturates the market, there are signs of fatigue.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Definition of saturate
Verb
  • The warning was to never wash her hands while wearing the ring, because the eye could wash away.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In response, temporary chemical toilets and hand-washing stations were installed, the department said.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of wash
Verb
  • That brightness will overwhelm many of the faint Delta Aquariid meteors, leaving only the brightest examples visible.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • This was often seen as a proxy for player skill, as more advanced players could better handle the cognitive rush of commanding dozens of units across multiple fronts, presumably leading to more effective play, eventually overwhelming the opponent.
    — Nnamdi Iregbulem, Fortune, 29 July 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • Between 2 and 5 inches of rain could fall in different sections of New England, potentially imperiling a handful of places already drenched by previous storms in recent days.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 July 2026
  • Later that week, a torrential downpour would have drenched the tour.
    — Natalie B. Compton, Washington Post, 25 July 2026
Definition of drench

Browse Nearby Words

droves
drown
drowned
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Cite this Entry

“Drown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drown. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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