sluice 1 of 2

verb

Definition of sluicenext
as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse he sluiced the gutters with lots of water in order to make sure they were clear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

sluice

2 of 2

noun

as in drain

Related 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 sluice
Verb
Stream beds were exempt from vegetation clearing, an attempt to keep powerful winter flows from sluicing sediment into the lake. — Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025 This was an incredible claim given the amount of money that came sluicing into the family coffers thanks to the generosity of dubious foreign actors. — Rich Lowry, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
Some residents said the country club contribues to flooding by opening its sluice gate when rain is forecast. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026 Dump the remaining gravel through a sluice box to remove lighter sand and small rocks, which filter into a gold pan. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sluice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sluice
  1. rinse
  2. drain
  3. wash
  4. flume
  5. flush
  6. flood
Verb
  • Squeeze some toothpaste on, scrub around for a couple minutes, rinse and get on with your day.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Leading off the bathroom is a small brick courtyard and an outdoor shower, ideal to rinse off after a dip in your pool, but not private enough to take the place of the indoor one.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rinse
Noun
  • Another problem with that sink was the direct connection between the drain line and the sewage system.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing stubborn mascara and the day’s buildup go down the drain, especially when the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is involved.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • How many Japanese women wash their face and hands in the morning with coconut soap?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Anyone who comes into contact with the bait’s liquid vaccine should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water, then call the phone number listed on the bait or their local health department for further instructions and referral.
    — Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of wash
Noun
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure debuted in 2024 — but the mountain that contains the log flume thrill ride has been around for decades longer.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The changes come less than two months after a 13-year-old boy climbed out of a log flume and fell 50 feet.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of flume
Verb
  • This is quite compact and has a walk-in shower, a vanity sink, and a flushing toilet.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Her cheeks are flushed with a vivid, shimmering, nearly hot-pink blush that eases up a bit over the bridge of her nose.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of flush
Verb
  • The greatest concern is high tide through Sunday morning and swells from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel could create dangerous conditions with beach erosion and seawater once again flooding beach roads and paths.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The urgency around courting nonaligned voters has been on display at recent debates, in ads flooding the airwaves and in the campaign money pouring into key states.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of flood

Browse Nearby Words

slugs (down)
sluice
sluiced
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sluice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sluice. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sluice

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sluice

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of outlandish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All