DRAINING Synonyms: 233 Similar and Opposite Words

draining 1 of 2

adjective

as in exhausting

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draining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of drain

as in pumping

to remove (liquid) gradually or completely we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in consuming

to make complete use of virtually drained the country's natural resources

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as in killing

to use up all the physical energy of the long hike drained us

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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 draining

Adjective

This is a good time to organize the list, clarify expectations, or make a routine feel less draining. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Speaking of the part of van life spent behind the wheel, Volkswagen has slightly reworked the Grand California's driver-assistance suite to make driving a little less draining. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026 Others are voluntarily asking to see more patients because the most draining and time-consuming parts of their job are now handled by AI. — Fj Campbell, Fortune, 20 May 2026 Already carrying wider spans of control and shrinking development support, a manager operating against an outdated role definition is doing something more draining than managing a heavy workload. — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 Asch recommends finding a driver-friendly activity to make time on the road feel less draining, such as listening to an audiobook or podcast. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026 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

This severe segmentation can be emotionally draining and erodes commitment to the organization. — Catherine Bell, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Teams devised an unprecedented bit of spaceship surgery to replace the valve without draining the propellant and disassembling the spacecraft, steps that would have triggered a much longer delay. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026 These teams typically floundered on and off the ice, draining the revenue-sharing pool and rarely fielding Stanley Cup contenders. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Excessive Wet Plants that are receiving excessive moisture or are not draining properly can also exhibit signs of decline, the plant expert offers. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2026 Use fast-draining potting mix so the roots are not exposed to soggy soil for long periods of time. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026 Because that wind will continue for several days, water may have trouble fully draining between high-tide cycles. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2026 One floor sink at the cook’s line was clogged and not draining due to oil and grease buildup. — Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 To set your lettuce up for success, plant it in an area with full sun and slightly acidic, well-draining soil. — The Spruce, 24 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for draining

Adjective

Below, members of Forbes Business Council share ways leaders can determine whether AI is genuinely improving productivity or simply contributing to a more exhausting workweek.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
This all sounds exhausting, but most inhabitants love it, Specht notes, especially compared with the chaos of nearby Miami.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of exhausting

Adjective

Most other feeders can send dozens, if not hundreds, of clips to your phone each day, which can be more fatiguing than relaxing to go through.

— Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026
But the most mentally fatiguing aspect, the work found, was having to constantly supervise the AI tools, with some employees overseeing multiple AI agents performing different tasks at the same time.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of fatiguing

Verb

In the employer market, more recent data suggest the volumes of prescriptions — which are proprietary — are driving up spending more than prices, although prices are still a factor.

— Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
Born and raised in Flushing, Queens, to a Chinese family, Liu developed an early interest in beauty, recalling spending hours painting her nails after school.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of spending

Verb

For a decade, hundreds of Black women and girls have gathered in Kansas City wearing curls, coils, locs, braids and Afros for an annual photograph intended to challenge narrow ideas about what beautiful hair is supposed to look like.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
Dixie D’Amelio sauntered in wearing a shimmering black Gucci dress.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026