as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 irrigate
Williams saw close to 100 bushels of wheat per acre irrigated last year, but this year might only have 30 to 40.
—
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Government officials have redirected the river’s water from Isfahan to Yazd and other neighboring provinces for agricultural and industrial use, leaving the riverbed surrounding Si-o-Se Pol dry for most of the year, apart from periods when dams are opened to irrigate wheat fields east of Isfahan.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—
Noah Daly
may 7,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Plants are less likely to catch fire if they are properly irrigated, pruned to remove all dead material, and free of fallen leaves, needles and twigs.
—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
Government officials have redirected the river’s water from Isfahan to Yazd and other neighboring provinces for agricultural and industrial use, leaving the riverbed surrounding Si-o-Se Pol dry for most of the year, apart from periods when dams are opened to irrigate wheat fields east of Isfahan.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
The moratorium from the Idaho Department of Water Resources seeks to address water table questions in Southwest Idaho, affecting applications to irrigate some 7,000 acres of farmland.
—
Noah Daly
may 7,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
-
Scrub the area with a soft brush or sponge, then rinse and dry.
-
Dilute your cleaning solutions and don't forget to rinse and dry when you're finished.
Verb
-
Contrary to what those face-washing commercials from our childhood led us to believe, your skin doesn't need to feel tight or squeaky-clean after cleansing.
-
For example, using the same cutting board for raw chicken and fresh vegetables without washing it in between can spread bacteria.
Verb
-
But their surge in popularity has coincided with an increase in plumbing issues, because people are flushing them down the toilet.
-
Running a short cycle after performing a deep cleaning cycle and hand-detailing the dispensers, gaskets, and filters can help to flush out any lingering residue from the cleaning process.
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
