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
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
Israel has said throughout the war that Hamas was siphoning off aid supplies, an accusation that the United Nations and aid groups have denied.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 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
The two have overlapping bases of support and are seemingly siphoning off support from each other, but if one dropped out, the other would have a genuine chance to advance from the top-two primary.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
The problem with this shift is pretty clear – Cooper is effectively siphoning off cash from a really good contact lens business and then reinvesting it in what most people would judge to be a less attractive business.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025
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
Israel has said throughout the war that Hamas was siphoning off aid supplies, an accusation that the United Nations and aid groups have denied.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 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
The two have overlapping bases of support and are seemingly siphoning off support from each other, but if one dropped out, the other would have a genuine chance to advance from the top-two primary.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
The problem with this shift is pretty clear – Cooper is effectively siphoning off cash from a really good contact lens business and then reinvesting it in what most people would judge to be a less attractive business.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siphoning
Verb
-
Clay-heavy soils under many Michigan roads, especially around Metro Detroit, trap moisture rather than draining it.—
Ahmad Bajjey,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Public schools in Florida are funded on a per-student basis, and schools that operate at about half capacity or less typically do not generate enough money to be self-supporting, instead draining the district’s budget.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Border Patrol needs to return to the border, and DHS must stop funneling money to the creation of new detention centers.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
With an eye toward driving those gains further, the port is funneling efforts into projects like a collaboration with the South Coast Air Quality Management District to develop zero-emissions infrastructure.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Your adrenaline’s pumping [after] being out for a while.—
Daily News,
Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Lavrenov is still pumping his fist and yelling to no one in particular after an inspired play because of what the sport means to him.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The city’s Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday signed an executive order directing city police to investigate and document alleged misconduct by federal immigration officers with an eye toward prosecution.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Beginning Sunday, airports will have videos and signage with QR codes directing travelers to the ConfirmID website.—
Isabel Yip,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From the earliest glimpses of new color to Valentine’s Day to channeling stir-craziness into spring cleaning, our friends at ALDI have stocked their February Finds to make sure you’re covered for all 28 days—and then some.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
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Margot Robbie’s Wuthering Heights wardrobe has already made headlines for its fantastical, whimsical, and at times NSFW interpretation of period drama style ahead of the film’s February 13 release—and the Barbie star is channeling Catherine Earnshaw off-screen for her latest outing.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The stars are going to be carrying the Olympic torches.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The small plane was carrying two crew members and 13 passengers, including Diógenes Quintero, 36, a member of the House of Representatives for Catatumbo, the airline said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Videos of the shooting show multiple officers approaching Good’s SUV, which had stopped in the middle of a one-way street in an area where ICE officers were conducting an operation.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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Tremper developed over 100 contacts inside and outside major AI labs, sometimes conducting pre-interviews lasting up to 20 hours.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keep your water faucets dripping, wrap your pipes in minimally heated areas with piping insulation, and leave doors open to allow heat to flow through your home.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This Amazon lookalike comes with pants and a button-down shirt with piping along the hems to offer comfort, warmth, and style all in one.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Siphoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siphoning. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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