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
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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
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Recent Examples of flushing
Safety Considerations Burns are the biggest risk when flushing a water heater.
—
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
Ever wondered about the science behind flushing during a flight?
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
The bathroom is accessed from the kitchen by a sliding barn-style door and looks very snug but does include a walk-in shower, a flushing toilet, and some shelving.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Chism recommends flushing the system yearly to protect the longevity of your unit.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
How To Clean Toilet Bowl Rings With Vinegar For toilet bowl rings, lower the water level in your toilet by turning off the water supply valve behind the toilet and flushing it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Pour half a cup of bleach into the toilet bowl, scrub with a toilet brush, and close the lid to allow the bleach to sit for a couple of minutes before flushing to rinse off the bleach.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
The immediate remediation steps included installing special water filters on all fixtures, flushing the systems and making plans for follow-up testing, county officials said Wednesday.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
For now, the United States Navy is regularly flushing money down the drain with VCHT and, at times, little else.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2026
Ever wondered about the science behind flushing during a flight?
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
The bathroom is accessed from the kitchen by a sliding barn-style door and looks very snug but does include a walk-in shower, a flushing toilet, and some shelving.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Chism recommends flushing the system yearly to protect the longevity of your unit.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
How To Clean Toilet Bowl Rings With Vinegar For toilet bowl rings, lower the water level in your toilet by turning off the water supply valve behind the toilet and flushing it.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
Pour half a cup of bleach into the toilet bowl, scrub with a toilet brush, and close the lid to allow the bleach to sit for a couple of minutes before flushing to rinse off the bleach.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
The immediate remediation steps included installing special water filters on all fixtures, flushing the systems and making plans for follow-up testing, county officials said Wednesday.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
For now, the United States Navy is regularly flushing money down the drain with VCHT and, at times, little else.
—Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flushing
Verb
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Then, give the item a quick wash with a mild dish soap, rinsing again a final time to completely remove any lingering odors or stickiness.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
4 Mar. 2026
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For this method, Sokolowski suggests sprinkling baking soda on a damp microfiber cloth, then scrubbing the curtain and rinsing with warm water before hanging to dry.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Only on the occasional night out would the former publicist embellish her features by blushing her lips in a ruby red hue — sometimes glossy, sometimes matte.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Still, there is one explicit scene in the erotic dramedy that ended up getting shortened — but not to spare blushing audiences.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sort your laundry — but not by color The once cardinal rule of separating darks from whites before washing them has flown the coop.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
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Sophie has spent so long this season being a role of service, and for Benedict to now be washing her hair and then pleasuring her felt like a really nice switcheroo that Sophie deeply deserved.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As a result, a ring of fire phenomenon can be seen, as the sun’s outer edge appears like a glowing circle around the moon.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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Pilots can see bad weather lurking in the distance hours before takeoff, glowing like a wraith on their digital maps.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flushing. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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