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
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Recent Examples of irrigate
Tulare Lake was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, but it was drained to irrigate crops, and has reappeared only occasionally when floodwaters return.
—
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
When selecting a sprinkler, look for one with a coverage pattern that most closely matches the area to be irrigated (the shape and size of the space the sprinkler covers should be listed on the package).
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
In Tazewell County, Illinois, Michael Deppert depends on a natural pool of water beneath the sandy soils of his farm to irrigate the pumpkins, corn, and soybeans growing in his fields.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
When selecting a sprinkler, look for one with a coverage pattern that most closely matches the area to be irrigated (the shape and size of the space the sprinkler covers should be listed on the package).
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
Runoff pollutes water used to irrigate crops and provide water for livestock.
—Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
In Tazewell County, Illinois, Michael Deppert depends on a natural pool of water beneath the sandy soils of his farm to irrigate the pumpkins, corn, and soybeans growing in his fields.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
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Vulcano About an hour ferry ride from Milazzo, Vulcano lures visitors with its active volcano, Gran Cratere, and open-air mud baths just steps from the port, where bathers slather on the mineral-rich goodness before rinsing in the sea.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
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White mineral buildup on fixtures, soap that won’t lather and a tight or filmy feeling after rinsing all point to hard water.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The next night after the stabbing, an employee at the gas station, who did not witness the incident, told the Daily News that five men appeared to be living in the weed truck — and had been doing so for about 6 months — and most mornings would offer to wash cars being serviced at nearby auto shops.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
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Finally, Altmann reminded people to wash their hands well after outdoor activities or cleaning storage areas.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Other amenities include flushing toilets and hot showers, an RV dumping station, a playground, and basketball and volleyball courts.—
Anna Laird Barto,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
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According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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