drowning

verb

present participle of drown
1
as in flooding
to cover with a flood whole villages drowned by the rampaging river

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 The medical examiner determined Erving’s death was an accident caused by drowning. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 15 July 2026 The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office found that Erving died of drowning and that the manner was determined to be accidental, police said. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 14 July 2026 Doctors told state media outlet Vietnam News that the 49-year-old man had severe lung damage after nearly drowning, along with shock, multiple injuries and bleeding in the brain. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 The incident occurred on the Elk River in Noel, Missouri, at the beach of the Two Sons Campground, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol drowning report. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026 The coroner said Monday's autopsy findings were consistent with drowning, adding that there is no evidence to indicate foul play at this time. — Michael Guise, CBS News, 13 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 The cotton-bamboo blend makes this material super stretchy and easy to wear in the heat, without feeling overheated or drowning in fabric. — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026 And beginning this month, every family enrolled in a public school will receive a water safety packet that outlines drowning prevention strategies and the importance of formal swim instruction. — Veronica Almedina, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowning
  1. flooding
  2. soaking
  3. wetting
  4. engulfing
  5. saturating
  6. washing
  7. overwhelming
  8. drenching
Verb
  • Due to flooding risks heightened by the Claremont Fire’s burn scar, the National Weather Service is closely monitoring conditions of the Freestone Creek Basin near the Military Reserve.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 13 July 2026
  • Despite the copious downpour that led to flooding across many parts of the country in the last two weeks, India still faces the prospect of a deficient monsoon this year.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Definition of flooding
Verb
  • Summer Lake Hot Springs is a standout, with its smattering of rustic but cozy casitas and indoor and outdoor mineral hot springs soaking pools.
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
  • How To Deep Clean Blinds To deep clean your blinds, San Angelo recommends taking them down and soaking them in a bathtub or spraying them with a hose outside.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of soaking
Verb
  • 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
  • Water in the morning deeply at the base of the plant using a soaker hose, avoiding wetting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2026
Definition of wetting
Verb
  • Shop Cooling Summer Dresses at REI This summer has proven to be particularly brutal, with heat waves engulfing a massive portion of the country.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • But the scandal engulfing Platner’s candidacy has invited a who’s who of Maine Democrats to float their names for the nomination, some of whom are more liberal than others.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026
Definition of engulfing
Verb
  • Follow by saturating the area with a pet-specific enzymatic cleaner.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 June 2026
  • However, strawberries are also susceptible to root rot, so make sure to avoid over-saturating the soil.
    — Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 20 June 2026
Definition of saturating
Verb
  • As the risk of infection continues, Connecticut residents are urged to continue washing all produce in running water, scrubbing firm fruits and, to be safest, cooking produce to 158 degrees.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
  • Employees also moved from one work station to the next without washing hands and changing gloves.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Definition of washing
Verb
  • Nieuw Bergen presents an innovative and attractive approach to inner-city housing, demonstrating how housing developments can be introduced without overwhelming the character of an existing neighborhood.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 04, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • The best caftans feel lightweight and roomy without overwhelming your frame.
    — Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of overwhelming
Verb
  • Summer campers rescued Friday’s drenching rains washed away roads around Camp Taum Sauk, trapping children and staffers at the site in the small southeastern community of Lesterville, according to Sgt.
    — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 11 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 drenching

Browse Nearby Words

drowned
drowning
drowns
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Cite this Entry

“Drowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowning. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on drowning

Nglish: Translation of drowning for Spanish Speakers

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