LEACH Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

leach

verb

Definition of leach

as in to percolate

Related Words

Relevance

as in to flush

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 leach Strict toxicity testing is also mandatory to ensure heavy metals do not leach out of the residential walls of the future. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026 Unlike other hard metals, tungsten is largely nontoxic, but the byproducts from mining it—called tailings—contain other harmful metals including arsenic, copper, zinc and lead and can leach into the environment. — Ari Sen, Scientific American, 13 June 2026 Aqua then added a phosphate mix, allegedly removing a protective layer in the plumbing that allowed lead to leach into homes, schools and businesses. — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Coal mines often leach dangerous chemicals like arsenic into waterways and are required to strictly monitor pollution discharge and keep it under certain limits. — Molly Redden, ProPublica, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for leach

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leach

Verb

The project began percolating after the band learned in January that a cache of 16-track, two-inch master tapes from those sessions had unexpectedly surfaced for sale on the online marketplace OfferUp in Orange County, Ca.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 29 July 2026
In nichrome, the chromium atoms are scattered due to a process called atomic ordering, which determines how the atoms travel or percolate.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Definition of percolate

Verb

Blending coming-of-age drama with a dreamlike, science-fiction edge, the film filters Argentina’s economic instability and the pull of the digital world through the perspective of a child searching for an escape.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 30 July 2026
For starters, neither file is filtered beyond building classification code.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Definition of filter

Verb

However, the vast majority of these folks did not actually vote, and many asked for their erroneous registrations to be purged, contrary to the Republican fantasy that millions of noncitizens are all gunning to illegally vote.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Partially funded by the federal government, the institution is governed by a board of regents, which does not have presidential appointees and can’t be purged in the way that the board of the Kennedy Center was.

— Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 25 July 2026

Definition of purge

Verb

Normal strategy in disaster situations is boiling water to purify it but this uses valuable fuel resources.

— Simon Heptinstall, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Next, the raw material is handed over to Talga Group, a specialist firm that purifies the recycled feedstock into pristine, battery-grade graphite.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

Definition of purify

Verb

Engineers used collaborative digital environments to evaluate the design, identify potential issues, and refine components before manufacturing test hardware.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
This, in turn, can help refine our bigger-picture understanding of how stars and galaxies formed.

— Damien Pine, Scientific American, 21 July 2026

Definition of refine

Verb

Dermal Definer is an all-in-one facial cleansing and massage device designed to deeply cleanse, refresh, and revitalize your skin from the comfort of your home.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
What lies before us is not a world cleansed of fraud, but a world in which the speed of both deception and defense keeps rising, so that the responsibility shared between institutions and individuals grows more important.

— Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of cleanse

Verb

The bathroom had blood splattered on the wall, so hospital staff asked a janitor to clean it.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Following the recommendations by Abraham, a dryer venting ductwork should be cleaned at least once every two years to ensure proper air flow, maximize the performance of the appliance, and prevent the risk of fire in a home.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of clean

Browse Nearby Words

lea

leach

leached

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Leach.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leach. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of leach

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on leach

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes