as in exhausting
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Dissimilar Words
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
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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
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Use a rich, well-draining, loamy soil mix rich in organic matter.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
Fill a small pot with moist, well-draining succulent soil and plant the top stem cutting in the soil, pushing the bare stem down into the soil until the remaining leaves are resting just above the surface.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 9 Feb. 2026
And, while many people try to resolve tax issues on their own, the process can be confusing, time-consuming and emotionally draining, so getting the right help can make all the difference.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Having a loose and well-draining potting mix is essential for the health of African violets, as these plants have small, delicate roots that can be overwhelmed by heavy soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Fill the pots with well-draining sandy soil or a succulent or cactus mix.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
The drugs may calm the water without draining the pool.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Steady adjustments win respect without draining your energy.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Long periods of socializing, like a weeklong conference, can feel far more draining than shorter events.
—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
Verb
But the storks suffered when developers and agriculture operations began the ditching and draining that eventually compromised some 35% of South Florida's wetlands, where the majority of the birds nested.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Use a rich, well-draining, loamy soil mix rich in organic matter.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026
Fill a small pot with moist, well-draining succulent soil and plant the top stem cutting in the soil, pushing the bare stem down into the soil until the remaining leaves are resting just above the surface.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 9 Feb. 2026
And, while many people try to resolve tax issues on their own, the process can be confusing, time-consuming and emotionally draining, so getting the right help can make all the difference.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Having a loose and well-draining potting mix is essential for the health of African violets, as these plants have small, delicate roots that can be overwhelmed by heavy soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
Fill the pots with well-draining sandy soil or a succulent or cactus mix.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
The drugs may calm the water without draining the pool.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Steady adjustments win respect without draining your energy.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining
Adjective
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The few who did manage to pass through from Egypt described an arduous and exhausting journey.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Once a scam crosses into real estate and civil law, families are often left to navigate an expensive and exhausting legal system on their own.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By pumping far more money into the economy on an on-going basis, the contemporary Fed has gone far beyond what the congressional creators of the original system had in mind in 1913.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Kagiyama highlighted Japan’s performances Saturday, pumping both fists after his program.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Osteoporosis can also be caused by certain unhealthy habits, such as being sedentary, consuming excessive alcohol and using tobacco.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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Because of its lingering ripening period, some gardeners wait until the fruit drops before consuming it.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On Tuesday morning, Russian planes dropped seven powerful glide bombs on Sloviansk, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, killing an 11-year-old girl and her mother, according to regional chief Vadym Filashkin.—
EMMA BURROWS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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Prosecutors say Brian Walton of Los Angeles was a stranger to Claudia Guevara, but he’s accused of killing the woman, then 23.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Israel has also accused Hamas of siphoning aid and taxing goods for its survival.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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Utilities are spending billions of dollars upgrading their aging infrastructure, while data centers are prompting a surge in demand for electricity.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Wagner Moura Basking in the sun outside The Times newsroom ahead of his digital cover shoot last month, Wagner Moura seemed exceptionally relaxed about spending his Tuesday afternoon in El Segundo with a bunch of journalists.—
Matt Brennan
Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Moments later, Carthen struts into the frame wearing a Patriot's jersey corset, an enormous fur stole, and knee-high Timberland stilettos.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2026
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For part of his sentence, he was allowed out to work with the Norwegian Football Federation coaching young players, while wearing an ankle tag.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Draining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/draining. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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