DROWNING Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

drowning

verb

present participle of drown

as in flooding

to cover with a flood whole villages drowned by the rampaging river

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in soaking

to wet thoroughly with liquid drowned the carpet with shampoo, and so it took forever to dry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in wetting

to make wet cooked pasta drowned in marinara sauce

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 drowning Chandler Police Department spokesperson Sonu Wasu said Trigg was hospitalized after authorities responded to a drowning call on May 12. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 Oliver has been away from Buffalo's facility for periods this summer in the aftermath of his son, also named Ed, drowning in June at a residential pool in Houston. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 Fishing gear can entangle seals and other marine mammals, causing wounds, restricting movement or even drowning. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Accidental drowning is a particular concern, The Hill reported. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 Two of the remains found in 2022 belonged to drowning victims. — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 When Kiara is tied to an anchor and dropped into the middle of the ocean, her friends locate her using a phone flashlight and in plenty of time to keep her from drowning. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 The Port of Los Angeles forklift driver was wearing a life vest and was floating away, out to sea -- cold, worried about sharks and drowning. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 That being said, Herndon’s voice complements those of his subjects, rather than drowning them out. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowning

Verb

The main threat from the storm is flooding rain, with up to 9 inches possible in some areas.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Hurricane Milton, the second of which, tore all the Teflon panels off the Trop’s roof flooding the inside of the facility.

— Barry M. Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of flooding

Verb

Excess moisture is the biggest concern, so avoid soaking the surface and dry it thoroughly after cleaning.

— Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Upstairs, the primary suite flaunts a projector, large walk-in closets, and a skylit bath spotlighted by a huge oval soaking tub.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of soaking

Verb

Havenith said deliberately wetting clothing can provide evaporative cooling, including for older adults who may not sweat as effectively.

— Aya Diab, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
For best results, water deeply at the base of the plant, allowing moisture to soak into the root zone rather than wetting the foliage, says Kelly Funk, president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of wetting

Verb

Those officials moved into these elevated positions in the months following the Herald/Times’ reporting on the scandal engulfing the embattled charity.

— Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
As a parent who has purchased my share of scary Halloween costumes, I was particularly disturbed by the controversy now engulfing Target.

— Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of engulfing

Verb

That creates an important exception for government agencies that test drugs and send out regular reports on what adulterants are saturating the drug supply in certain locations.

— Scott Maucione, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Spray it onto a microfiber cloth and wipe your floors to avoid over-saturating them.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026

Definition of saturating

Verb

Guidance from the American Academy of Ophthalmology emphasizes a wearer washing their hands thoroughly with fragrance-free soap and water before touching the eye area to insert lenses.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
An employee was washing and rinsing mixing bowls in the front hand wash sink.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of washing

Verb

After all, there’s a reason why IVF has overwhelming bipartisan support.

— Dr. Jaime Knopman, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
To channel this sense of joyful minimalism, pair a bold color with playful accents, rich textures, and meaningful décor that brings personality to the space without overwhelming it.

— Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of overwhelming

Verb

Whether any storms billow up over the area this weekend is hard to pinpoint, but the potential is there for localized drenching downpours.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
The recent two-month onslaught of drenching rains and destructive tornados that ravaged both the south suburbs and northwest Indiana was bad enough.

— Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drenching

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drowned

drowning

drowns

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“Drowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowning. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of drowning

verb

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