1
as in flooding
to cover with a flood
whole villages drowned by the rampaging river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in soaking
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 wetting
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 drowning
In Kristin Dwyer's In Time With You (out March 3 from Wednesday Books), that's the conundrum facing Nieve Monroe, who's devastated after her boyfriend Carter dies saving her from drowning.
—
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Large breaking waves can overpower swimmers resulting in significant physical injury and increase the risk of drowning.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In December, eight months after Hill's death, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning and the manner of death as homicide.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
In the book To Sir Phillip, with Love, Marina dies from pneumonia following an attempt to take her own life by drowning.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
President Obama and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, who put up $100 million to fund this, want to give students the chance to actually explore what public service looks like without drowning in debt.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Seagoville first responders and a tow truck driver saved a 39-year-old man from drowning in a drainage culvert during the winter storm Tuesday afternoon, police said in a statement Thursday.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Those that don’t will continue drowning in data while feeling increasingly blind.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The body horror depicted in the 11-episode first season is a sight to behold, from botched facelifts to the varied beauty births, the season is drowning in blood, guts, vomit and an abundance of other unseemly bodily fluids.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
Large breaking waves can overpower swimmers resulting in significant physical injury and increase the risk of drowning.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026
In December, eight months after Hill's death, the medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning and the manner of death as homicide.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
In the book To Sir Phillip, with Love, Marina dies from pneumonia following an attempt to take her own life by drowning.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026
President Obama and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, who put up $100 million to fund this, want to give students the chance to actually explore what public service looks like without drowning in debt.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 30 Jan. 2026
Seagoville first responders and a tow truck driver saved a 39-year-old man from drowning in a drainage culvert during the winter storm Tuesday afternoon, police said in a statement Thursday.
—Elissa Jorgensen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Those that don’t will continue drowning in data while feeling increasingly blind.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The body horror depicted in the 11-episode first season is a sight to behold, from botched facelifts to the varied beauty births, the season is drowning in blood, guts, vomit and an abundance of other unseemly bodily fluids.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowning
Verb
-
But a drone had hit one of its salons, shattering a heating pipe and flooding the premises.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The first tournament of the 41st annual Snow Polo World Cup kicks off later today, and over 26,000 visitors are flooding into the Swiss resort town—nearly all of whom are taking the second rule of polo to heart.—
Jessica Sulima,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wipe the surface clean and dry it thoroughly to keep moisture from soaking into the wood.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
-
But this batch of Hornets (24-28) are riding the victory wave and soaking it in.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some other unconventional methods include steaming the fabric to soften the threads and then stretch, as well as wetting the garment and then pining it down at the correct size, like how crocheters stretch out granny squares.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Now add a blob of water, wetting some of the sand.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Video shows billowing smoke coming from the roof, and flames are engulfing the building.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In a disturbing incident in the northern city of Rasht, regime forces shot unarmed civilians trying to escape an inferno engulfing its bazaar.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Be sure to add milk mixture slowly and gradually to avoid over-saturating the cake.—
Martha Stewart,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Even beyond the runtimes, there’s a strange, extratemporal feeling saturating this project.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The inspector noted rusty shelves in the walk-in cooler, a fly strip directly over a food prep area and an employee washing their hands at the warewashing sink.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Someone else wiped his face with his hand and grabbed a bowl of cooked chicken without washing hands.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Levi’s style hits right at the hips, per one 5-foot-2 reviewer, and comes with a simple, zip-up design to avoid overwhelming your figure.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Their great taste whispers, never overwhelming those around them, but rather enthralling.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If your plants are wilting or the leaves are becoming crunchy from underwatering, try reintroducing water gradually over a few days rather than drenching your plant with too much water in one session.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
5 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
Cite this Entry
“Drowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowning. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
