variants
also syphoning
1
as in draining
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
I let the stranded motorist siphon some of my gas so he could be on his way
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in funneling
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
investigators discovered that the so-called charitable organization was siphoning funds for personal use
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of siphoning
Michael Bunting Years removed from his time siphoning points on Toronto’s top line, Bunting’s main numbers have stayed consistent.
—
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
True advocacy for Illinois students isn’t found in siphoning public interest — and potentially public resources — away from the system that serves nearly 2 million children.
—Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Israel has also accused Hamas of siphoning aid and taxing goods for its survival.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The energy on the Invite deal is so intense that its siphoning off attention on other sales titles, said one source.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
Online sellers were siphoning customers and big name brands had begun to sell goods from their own stores.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The school’s founders are accused of siphoning tens of millions of dollars into a private company between 2017 and 2021.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Jan. 2026
And both were in more comfortable distances on third downs, siphoning off sacks to four for a Broncos team that had been averaging nearly five per game.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
Prosecutors accused lobbyist Greg Campbell, former Deputy State Attorney General Sean McCluskie and former Gavin Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson of siphoning campaign funds from former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, McCluskie’s boss, to pad McCluskie’s salary.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
True advocacy for Illinois students isn’t found in siphoning public interest — and potentially public resources — away from the system that serves nearly 2 million children.
—Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Israel has also accused Hamas of siphoning aid and taxing goods for its survival.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
The energy on the Invite deal is so intense that its siphoning off attention on other sales titles, said one source.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
Online sellers were siphoning customers and big name brands had begun to sell goods from their own stores.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
The school’s founders are accused of siphoning tens of millions of dollars into a private company between 2017 and 2021.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Jan. 2026
And both were in more comfortable distances on third downs, siphoning off sacks to four for a Broncos team that had been averaging nearly five per game.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
Prosecutors accused lobbyist Greg Campbell, former Deputy State Attorney General Sean McCluskie and former Gavin Newsom chief of staff Dana Williamson of siphoning campaign funds from former Attorney General Xavier Becerra, McCluskie’s boss, to pad McCluskie’s salary.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siphoning
Verb
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This boost in oil revenue would likely hand Putin new revenue for his war effort in Ukraine, an enormous expenditure that has been draining Russia’s economy, according to James Henderson at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Find a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That included rapidly funnelling numerous Rainbow trout into Wyandotte County Lake using a tube, something that more than 20 residents came out to see.—
Sofi Zeman
March 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The team started to funneling ballhandlers to the sideline and baseline more often, after having funneling teams to the middle more often.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Officials have begun pumping the brakes a bit.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Gooding yells giddily, triumphantly jumping and fist-pumping the air.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During a recent interview on The New York Times’ podcast The Interview, Gyllenhaal discussed directing her first major studio film and the test screenings the movie underwent.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
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Your car acts as a Faraday cage, directing the electricity around you and protecting you.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Des Moines Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rising 21-year-old model posed on the March 5 cover of Perfect Magazine for the publication's Perfect 10 Issue while channeling her Oscar-winning mom's fashion prowess in a retro-looking Cou Cou Intimates white bra and layered Loro Piana hot pants.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
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With his strong, emo-channeling brand, the rising star has become a defining voice of regional Mexican music.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At the height of the sectarian war, parts of Baghdad were so riddled with impromptu militia checkpoints that many Iraqis started carrying two official-looking IDs — one genuine and the other a forgery with a last name and birthplace associated with the other sect.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Zero tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, a narrow channel just off Iran’s southern coast that’s normally packed with an armada of 60 or more ships carrying 20% of the world’s oil.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Israel, which has denied conducting the strike, has focused on areas of Iran closer to Israel and hasn't reported any strikes south of Isfahan, 500 miles away.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Bloomfield Fire Marshal is conducting the investigation with the assistance of the State Fire Marshal, police said.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Get the candy cane-stripe effect by painting red food coloring gel inside of a pastry bag before piping the filling.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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That’s partly because heat pumps work by extracting heat from outdoor air, compressing it and piping it indoors, a thermal magic trick that’s harder to perform in places with subzero winters.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Siphoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siphoning. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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