as in exhausting
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1
as in pumping
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely
we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consuming
to make complete use of
virtually drained the country's natural resources
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in killing
to use up all the physical energy of
the long hike drained us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of draining
Big Think, 28 Oct. 2025
By aligning strategic work with those rhythms, productivity can feel more natural and less draining.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 7 Jan. 2026
Add a base layer of well-draining potting mix to the bottom of the new pot, about a few inches deep.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Keep it consistently moist and use a well-draining potting mix.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2026
Devices stay online without worrying about draining the car’s starter battery.
—Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Besides cleaning it, sharpening the blades, and draining the gas, don’t overlook your mower’s oil.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2026
Extremely draining and hard day, hard for everyone involved, hard for everyone who loved Marshawn.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
Instead, voters now are expressing concerns that high prices for groceries, electricity bills and housing are draining their bank accounts.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Almost all of that is groundwater, and most of it needs to be replenished in some way to keep from draining limited aquifers.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events.
—Verb
Indoor poinsettias should be repotted out of poorly draining pots as soon as possible, while outdoor plants should only be transplanted outside when temperatures are above 50°F.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining
Adjective
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Equally efficient, less exhausting.—
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Big in-game comebacks are exhilarating – and exhausting.—
Verb
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To this day, as much fun as Johnson has with his offensive artistry, little gets his blood pumping like bringing a mauling running game to life.—
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Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
Verb
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Here's what regularly consuming olive oil can do for the body, as explained by dietitians.—
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For most people, consuming enough protein isn’t an issue, Taub-Dix said.—
Verb
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The charges relate to his killing Scott Wonoski, 43, a fellow inmate at the Massachusetts Treatment Center in Bridgewater, in 2021.—
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Those on the right, determined to make the case that this was an officer killing in self-defense, should instead be beginning with this utter failure to protect the life of a civilian protester and de-escalate the situation through some means other than shooting a fellow American in the head.—
Adjective
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Grand Luna has an unprecedented high-frequency extension that goes as high as 30kHz, while remaining smooth, non-fatiguing, and eliminating harshness or sibilance thanks to Campfire’s acoustic engineering.—
Verb
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The school’s founders are accused of siphoning tens of millions of dollars into a private company between 2017 and 2021.—
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Israel has said throughout the war that Hamas was siphoning off aid supplies, an accusation that the United Nations and aid groups have denied.—
Verb
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And just in case, she was laid to rest with some local currency, or spending cash, almost 1,000 Kaiyuan Tongbao coins tied to her waist and right leg, as per Arkeonews reported.—
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As the Carolina Panthers snapped a seven-season drought to claim the NFC South title, the Charlotte region may see another tourism spending boost from the team’s home playoff game last Saturday.—
Verb
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Some people even shared old photos of Indigenous peoples wearing the hoods, noting that the originators of the design kept the fur outward to break cold wind and trap snow.—
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Chavez posted a photo of Gregory Bovino walking down 33rd Street and Portland Avenue, flanked by three agents wearing masks.—
Cite this Entry
“Draining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draining. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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