1
as in rinsing
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
use this cleaner to flush the drain in the sink
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in blushing
to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)
he flushed deeply upon hearing the compliment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 flushing
Hives, flushing, nausea and diarrhea are common.
—
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Another that pops up is that flushing a tick down the toilet is a good way to kill it.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
17 June 2026
Treatment focuses on flushing caffeine from the body while managing symptoms.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Start by flushing the drain with hot water to help loosen grease and minor buildup.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
So far, Ramos said he’s donated all of his auto-flushing devices to CPS.
—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Use a toilet brush to scrub the entire bowl surface, then let the product stand for 5 minutes before flushing.
—
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
The astronauts reported bizarre smells, and had issues flushing urine outside the spacecraft as designed.
—
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
Lower flows mean less sediment flushing downstream, accelerating the sinking of the Louisiana delta.
—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Another that pops up is that flushing a tick down the toilet is a good way to kill it.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
17 June 2026
Treatment focuses on flushing caffeine from the body while managing symptoms.
—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Start by flushing the drain with hot water to help loosen grease and minor buildup.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
10 June 2026
So far, Ramos said he’s donated all of his auto-flushing devices to CPS.
—
Christiana Freitag,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Use a toilet brush to scrub the entire bowl surface, then let the product stand for 5 minutes before flushing.
—
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2026
The astronauts reported bizarre smells, and had issues flushing urine outside the spacecraft as designed.
—
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
Lower flows mean less sediment flushing downstream, accelerating the sinking of the Louisiana delta.
—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flushing
Verb
-
According to the American Cleaning Institute, certain laundry additives function by coating fabric surfaces, meaning that residues may remain even after rinsing.
-
If only mild signs are present, Lago recommends rinsing the dog’s mouth with water, either using a hose or a damp cloth.
Verb
-
Cue a raft of social media fancams showing a blushing Mary Bennet being pursued by her handsome, Regency-era bachelors.
-
The blushing singer was snapped getting a sweet smooch on the cheek from her big brother while backstage.
Verb
-
If possible, unpack directly into the washing machine and run clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes, both washing and drying.
-
Recharge the balls by washing them in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle, then air-dry or run them through a drying cycle on high heat.
Verb
-
The pants have close to 6,000 five-star ratings and plenty of glowing reviews to boot.
-
Humans of all ages, in fact, stare dazed into glowing screens.
Cite this Entry
“Flushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flushing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
