as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 irrigate
Farmers can no longer irrigate their crops, and shepherds can no longer reach their pastures.
—
Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
However, arsenic is a naturally occurring substance that can contaminate groundwater and food irrigated with tainted water.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2025
Sergio Rojas, an Indigenous activist from the Qom community, told Global Witness that, in addition to destroying rainforest, agricultural corporations had diverted rivers to irrigate their crops.
—David Vetter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Because the hospital lacked saline to irrigate wounds, doctors mixed tap water with chlorine meant for swimming pools.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
However, arsenic is a naturally occurring substance that can contaminate groundwater and food irrigated with tainted water.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 15 May 2025
Sergio Rojas, an Indigenous activist from the Qom community, told Global Witness that, in addition to destroying rainforest, agricultural corporations had diverted rivers to irrigate their crops.
—David Vetter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Because the hospital lacked saline to irrigate wounds, doctors mixed tap water with chlorine meant for swimming pools.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
-
Step five: Remove the mouthpiece, rinse your mouth with water, and clean the device as instructed.—
Daley Quinn,
Glamour,
11 June 2025
-
After applying a mask, leave it on for the time recommended on product label, and gently rinse off with lukewarm water before lightly patting your skin dry with a washcloth.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
9 June 2025
Verb
-
Consumers should also wash and disinfect any surfaces that came in contact with the eggs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 June 2025
-
The hilltop compound is perhaps most famous for its car museum, a nearly 24,000-square-foot showstopper built to house Lyon’s epic personal collection, with room for 70 vehicles (none included with the sale, unfortunately), as well as an auto shop and wash and gas stations.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Unlike regular acne, the bumps from rosacea don’t typically have blackheads or whiteheads and are often accompanied by flushing, visible blood vessels and sensitivity.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
12 June 2025
-
The Cardinals will happily flush their performance over the last three days and focus on their upcoming four-game division showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share