DROWNING Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

drowning

verb

present participle of drown

as in flooding

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in wetting

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 drowning Chandler Police Department spokesperson Sonu Wasu said Trigg was hospitalized after authorities responded to a drowning call on May 12. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Oliver has been away from Buffalo's facility for periods this summer in the aftermath of his son, also named Ed, drowning in June at a residential pool in Houston. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 Fishing gear can entangle seals and other marine mammals, causing wounds, restricting movement or even drowning. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Accidental drowning is a particular concern, The Hill reported. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 Two of the remains found in 2022 belonged to drowning victims. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 When Kiara is tied to an anchor and dropped into the middle of the ocean, her friends locate her using a phone flashlight and in plenty of time to keep her from drowning. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 The Port of Los Angeles forklift driver was wearing a life vest and was floating away, out to sea -- cold, worried about sharks and drowning. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 That being said, Herndon’s voice complements those of his subjects, rather than drowning them out. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowning

Verb

But with so many inexperienced agents flooding the industry, finding one who’s actually good has become a game of roulette.

— Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026
Too early to tell, but the Viceroy name will, no doubt, bring Americans, who are already flooding into Portugal for vacation and often, to settle.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of flooding

Verb

That becomes particularly dangerous in cities, where roads, parking lots and buildings prevent rain from soaking into the ground.

— Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
The unusually hot British summer has made the challenge even more demanding, resulting in Jackson soaking his clothes in cold water every morning to keep cool.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of soaking

Verb

Havenith said deliberately wetting clothing can provide evaporative cooling, including for older adults who may not sweat as effectively.

— Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
For best results, water deeply at the base of the plant, allowing moisture to soak into the root zone rather than wetting the foliage, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of wetting

Verb

Those officials moved into these elevated positions in the months following the Herald/Times’ reporting on the scandal engulfing the embattled charity.

— Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
As a parent who has purchased my share of scary Halloween costumes, I was particularly disturbed by the controversy now engulfing Target.

— Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of engulfing

Verb

That creates an important exception for government agencies that test drugs and send out regular reports on what adulterants are saturating the drug supply in certain locations.

— Scott Maucione, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Spray it onto a microfiber cloth and wipe your floors to avoid over-saturating them.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026

Definition of saturating

Verb

The magnesium fits alongside a skincare wind-down that includes washing her face with her brand’s Micellar Cleanser, applying its Prep Serum and using its Night Cream, sometimes with a few drops of Boosting Oil mixed in.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026
To prevent an infection, the CDC recommends washing your hands and any fresh produce under running water before eating, preparing or cooking it.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of washing

Verb

Those applications must meet criteria that require the projects to be compatible with their surroundings — for instance, by not overwhelming existing homes or creating too much traffic for the street network to handle.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
Underneath the surface, the Fashion Studio intuitively harnesses the cumulative power of leading AI models without overwhelming the designer with having to learn a new technology to do the same job.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Verb

Consider using the hue on foundational elements like tile, brick, bookshelves, wainscoting, or in color-drenching applications in small spaces like a mudroom or powder bath.

— Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
Destructive tornadoes and drenching storms pummeled the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including two waterspouts that came ashore in the New York City area.

— Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of drenching

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drowned

drowning

drowns

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Style

“Drowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowning. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of drowning

verb

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